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Toyota Motor Corp. surpasses 1M global hybrid sales

07/10/2007

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA Inc., announced the one-millionth hybrid sale today by parent company, Toyota Motor Corp. Of the one million hybrid sales worldwide, more than half have been sold in the United States — 541,210 units from 2000 through April 2007.

“The cost benefit of hybrids is becoming more apparent with climbing gas prices,” said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. “We anticipate combined sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids of a quarter million units in the US during calendar year 2007.”

Despite earlier concerns that decreased tax credits from the IRS would dampen hybrid demand, Toyota continues to post record hybrid sales. Calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales for TMS totaled 119,154 units, an increase of 75 percent over the same period last year.

In May, TMS posted sales of 36,101 hybrid vehicles, up 102 percent over last May. Toyota Division posted sales of 34,174 hybrids, up 121 percent over the same period last year. Lexus Division posted sales of 1,927 hybrids.

As consumers begin the summer driving season, the broad benefits of hybrid technology reveal discernible cost-savings with strong sales of Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Prius. When comparing real-world hybrid transaction prices to non-hybrid prices and taking into account current rising fuel prices, Toyota hybrids show their remarkable value.