Categories: This Day

March 11, 2009 – Toyota announces 1 millionth hybrid sale

Toyota, standing behind the Prius, was the first company to mass produce a successful hybrid vehicle in the United States. The Prius launched in Japan in October 1997 and made its way to America by July 2000, and over the next few years the company would launch several other hybrid models. On this day in 2009 Toyota announced that it has sold its one millionth gas-electric hybrid in the US under its six Toyota and Lexus brands. More than 700,000 of them were Priuses, which was more than half of all the Priuses sold worldwide by that time. 

Above: Lexus RX 400h By derivative work: Altair78
Top: First generation Toyota Prius (2000-2003)

Other hybrid models sold under the Toyota umbrella at the time included the Lexus RX 400h, the world’s first hybrid luxury vehicle. Toyota followed this up with the Highlander hybrid in June 2005. Two years later, on April 6, 2011, Toyota announced it had sold its one millionth Prius in the United States.

Brian Corey

Recent Posts

April 2, 1875 – Walter Chrysler is born

After a long stint as a mechanic and machinist who worked his way up in…

17 hours ago

March 26, 1879 – Othmar Ammann, NYC bridge designer, is born

Othmar Ammann may not be a familiar name to most, but if you live in…

1 week ago

The History of the Arizona Automotive Industry

Lucid Air by Mr.choppers - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138255918 Arizona may not be…

1 week ago

March 25, 1930 – Larry Shinoda, designer of Corvettes and Mustangs, is born

Larry Shinoda (Ford) Lawrence Kiyoshi Shinoda was born on March 25, 1930, in Los Angeles,…

1 week ago

March 19, 1999 – Ford establishes Premier Automotive Group

2000 Land Rover Discovery, from the year Ford purchased Land Rover. Ford Motor Company's Premier…

2 weeks ago

March 18, 1858 – Rudolf Diesel’s birthday

On this day in 1858 Rudolf Diesel, would later patent the type of engine by…

2 weeks ago