[dZired]

Toyota Motor Corporation has sold over 1 crore hybrid vehicles across the globe. This milestone has been achieved in less than 20 years of the company's first hybrid car launch. The official announcement made by the Japanese manufacturer claims that as of January 31, the cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles stand at 1.005 crore.

Toyota stepped into the Hybrid market in August 1997 with the launch of the Coaster Hybrid EV in Japan. However, the company got its big breakthrough in the segment with the launch of the Prius in December 1997. The Prius became the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and even after two decades it is still bringing satisfactory sales numbers for the automaker. In 2015, Toyota unveiled the fourth-gen Prius in the international markets, based on Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

Toyota currently sells 34 different hybrid models in over 90 countries across the globe. Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the automaker's Indian arm, had launched the Prius here in 2010 and the Camry Hybrid in 2013. The company had also showcased the new-gen Prius at the 2016 Auto Expo and is hoping to launch it in India in the near future.

Link to Team-BHP News

[GTO]

Hat's off to the Prius for its achievements. It's one of the rare cars that is cheap (internationally) and still has a 'cool' image. Honda was actually the first to the USA market with the Insight, but it looked damn weird (have seen many in person). The Prius' success was in how it was a 'regular' car and a hybrid. It's because of the Prius that Toyota became big on hybrids and started offering the tech on other cars.

I just wish Toyota India wasn't so slow. Remember how they took 4 - 5 years to bring the Fortuner here? It's a similar situation today. No one in the mass market offers hybrids, leave aside well-priced ones. Our driving conditions are just what hybrids are designed for, and where they will offer the maximum benefits (electric power at low speeds, crazy high FE, substantially lower emissions).

Importantly, well-priced mass market hybrids could triple Toyota India's market share overnight. Diesels have lost favour in the market, and petrols are currently ruling. Imagine a hybrid for 1 lakh more that gives you 25 kmpl. Car buyers will go ballistic!

Maruti doesn't have a proper hybrid, while Hyundai is nowhere as strong as Toyota in the area. Toyota has a loaded gun in its pocket, but refuses to take it out & fire. Sigh...

[volkman10]

Indeed a great achievement by Toyota.

Toyota currently offers 34 models with hybrid drive, including models from Lexus.

From a total of 10 million hybrids, many of them were produced over the past 20 years, most of them were delivered to customers in the North American market where it is placed over 3 million cars.

When two decades ago, the hybrids were seen as another experiment from the automotive industry with an uncertain future. However, Toyota has firmly stepped into the unknown - A true leadership position now in Hybrids.



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[libranof1987]

The Prius' achievement is seriously commendable; it sort of made hybrids cool and "sought-after". More importantly, it allowed hybrids to be accepted as mass market movers.

A day after announcing sale of over 10 million hybrid cars worldwide, Toyota underlined its commitment to its hybrid fleet of vehicles in India by launching the fourth-generation Prius at a starting price of Rs 39.96 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi).

At its heart, the Prius has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and has a claimed mileage of 26.27kmpl.

40 lakhs ex-showroom in Delhi will mean close to 50 on road in Bangalore. Unless the Govt. hands out a massive subsidy, not sure this is good pricing.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...w/57166225.cms

Originally Posted by GTO

Toyota has a loaded gun in its pocket, but refuses to take it out & fire. Sigh...

It's as if Toyota was just waiting for this comment

[volkman10]

GAC Motor, Geely To Use Toyota's Hybrid System.

Toyota Motor Corporation will supply the Guangzhou Automobile Group or GAC Motor with their gasoline-electric hybrid technology. This marks the first time Toyota will offer its core hybrid technology to a foreign company.

The move follows a decision by China to include hybrid vehicles in the eco-friendly vehicle category under new emissions standards starting next year. At present, hybrid vehicles are treated in the same way as gasoline-powered ones. Japanese companies, including Toyota, hope to take advantage of the new rules to expand sales in China.

The hybrid technology will be provided to GAC by BluE Nexus, a company jointly owned by Toyota, Denso, and Aisin Seiki.

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