Worldwide Prius Sales Top 1 Million Mark

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that
worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius–the world’s first mass-produced
gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle – have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately
1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year*1. Currently, Prius sales
are robust in more than 40 countries and regions, particularly in Japan and
North America.

Based on sales figures collected up to April 30, 2008, TMC 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*2 less
CO2 when compared with gasoline-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. In August 2007, Prius G, S and S “Standard
Package” Japan models achieved a fuel efficiency of 29.6km/l in the Japanese
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s newly introduced JC08 test
cycle. (The Prius S and S “Standard Package” models achieved 35.5km/l
in the older 10-15 test cycle.) The Prius is also one of the first vehicles
to meet the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards set out under the Law
Concerning the Rational Use of Energy.

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