Toyota announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius – the world’s first mass-produced petrol/electric hybrid vehicle – have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year.　

Prius sales are strong in more than 40 countries and regions, including over 100,000 cumulative sales in Europe of which 23,893 have been in the UK.  For 2008 Prius sales are up 7.1 per cent in the UK over the same period last year.

Based on sales figures collected up to April 30, 2008, Toyota believes that Prius vehicles worldwide have contributed to a reduction in CO₂ emissions (considered a cause of global warming) by producing approximately 4.5 million tons less CO₂ when compared with conventional petrol-powered vehicles in the same class and of similar size and driving performance.

The Prius was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other markets in 2000.  In 2005, Toyota began first overseas production of the Prius in Changchun, China, and sales of Prius vehicles in South Korea are expected to begin in the latter half of 2009.

In 2003, the second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II, was introduced with improved environmental performance and power.  

As part of its high-priority environment-management policies, Toyota has made a concerted effort to promote and popularise hybrid technology, chiefly through the Prius.  Toyota aims to sell 1 million or more hybrid vehicles annually as early as possible in the 2010s.