Toyota reaches two million hybrid electric vehicle sales in Europe

Toyota has delivered its two millionth hybrid electric vehicle in Europe with the sale of a Toyota C-HR Hybrid crossover to a customer in Warsaw, Poland. The milestone has been reached 18 years after the debut of the original Prius as the first hybrid car to enter the European market.

The growth in hybrid sales has accelerated in recent years as Toyota has made its industry-leading technology available in a wider range of cars. At the same time, customers have embraced hybrid as a practical and rewarding choice, adopting the powertrain as an attractive and efficient alternative to conventional petrol and diesel engines.

In 2011, hybrids accounted for 10% of Toyota’s annual new car sales in Europe. The share has now climbed to 47% in 2018, and the range extends from the Yaris Hybrid supermini to the powerful Lexus LC 500h flagship coupe. In 2019, the choice will be even greater with hybrid systems available in the all-new Toyota Corolla, RAV4 and Camry, and Lexus UX and ES models.

Independent research has shown that current self-charging Toyota hybrids can be driven in zero emissions, all-electric mode for 50% of average urban and suburban journeys. Owners do not need to connect their vehicle to a power supply for recharging as the hybrid system automatically recharges the battery while driving, decelerating and braking.

Almost one in every two Toyota cars sold in Europe is a hybrid

Matthew Harrison, Toyota Motor Europe’s vice president of Toyota Sales and Marketing, said: “It’s no surprise that our two millionth Toyota hybrid sale in Europe is a Toyota C-HR as this is now the best-selling Toyota hybrid model in the region. We are delighted that our extended Toyota hybrid range continues to appeal to more and more European drivers. Thanks to their trust and our undisputed hybrid leadership, we are very confident we will exceed our goal of a 50% hybrid sales mix in Europe by 2020.”

Since Prius made its debut in Japan in 1997, Toyota has sold more than 12 million hybrid cars worldwide. More than a numerical milestone, this demonstrates how self-charging hybrid technology has changed the automotive landscape, emerging as a mainstream solution to reducing greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Toyota now sells 34 different hybrids in more than 90 countries and regions around the world.

Toyota global hybrid facts and figures

• To reach the first million hybrid sales – about ten years
• To achieve the most recent one million hybrid sales – eight months
• Approximate annual hybrid sales – 1.5 million
• Launch in Japan of Prius, the first Toyota hybrid – 1997
• Calculated savings in global CO₂ emissions from 12 million hybrid sales – 93 million tonnes
• Number of Toyota group hybrid models currently on sale – 34
• Number of countries where Toyota hybrids are sold – more than 90

Toyota European hybrid facts and figures

• Start of Toyota hybrid car sales in Europe – 2000, with introduction of Prius
• Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales in Europe – two million
• Hybrid share of Toyota annual new vehicle sales to date – 47%
• Target hybrid sales mix by 2020 – 50%
• Toyota group hybrids sold in Europe in 2017 – more than 400,000, a 38% increase on 2016
• Number of Toyota and Lexus hybrid models available in Europe – 17 (eight Toyota, nine Lexus)
• Number of Toyota hybrid models manufactured in Europe – three (Toyota C-HR in Turkey, Auris in the UK and Yaris in France)

The increased availability and customer uptake of hybrid vehicles supports Toyota in its pursuit of the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050.