It has been the central figure in the emergence of hybrid cars for more than a decade and now Toyota is celebrating a sales milestone.
The company has announced that its global cumulative sales of hybrids have now topped the three million mark as of the end of February.
Sales began when the company launched the Toyota Coaster Hybrid EV back in August 1997 and followed it with the Prius in Japan in December of the same year. Sales of the Prius came to North America and Europe in 2000; with a second generation model in 2003 and the expanded use of the hybrid system in vehicles such as mini-vans and SUVs. A third generation Prius model was revealed in May 2009 with the two million mark surpassed in August of the same year.
In 2011, Toyota has furthered it commitment to hybrid technology by launching the Lexus CT 200h, which is the first dedicated hybrid in the premium compact segment. It currently sells 16 hybrid vehicles in around 80 countries and regions around the world with plans to introduce 10 new hybrid models by the end of 2012.
