Toyota Prius Hits 1 Million Milestone
By Greg Migliore
Few cars symbolize the hybrid revolution in the United States as singularly as the Toyota Prius, and its lofty sales have helped propel the Japanese juggernaut to No. 1 in the world. This week, it clicked off another milestone--1 million sales in the United States.
The Prius launched 11 years ago and has since annually claimed the title of best-selling hybrid in the world. Toyota has sold more than 2 million copies of it globally, pushing the brand’s total hybrid sales to 3 million.
The company claims that more than 97 percent of Prius cars are still on the road.
“Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy,” Toyota vice president Bob Carter said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Toyota announced ambitious plans at the Detroit auto show to expand the Prius line. The Prius v, which is larger than the current car, joins in the fall, and in 2012, the Prius c compact and the Prius plug-in will be added.
The Prius has become a staple of Hollywood stars and mainstream Americans, as motorists have transitioned to more fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative powertrains.
The Prius was by far the best-selling hybrid in the United States last year, recording sales of 140,928. That’s more than any other single carmaker and well head of the next top sellers, the Honda Insight (20,962) and the Ford Fusion (20,816) hybrids.
The Prius has also helped Toyota weather dramatic shifts in fuel prices. A gallon of unleaded cost $3.71 as of Wednesday morning, up sharply from $2.83 a year ago, AAA reports, and crude oil topped $108 a barrel.
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I own a 2008 Prius and I'm not boring - I went bowling a couple of times and even watched a baseball game once (I took the bus). All joking aside, I love muscle cars and am looking for a 2008 Hummer H-2, SUT Ultramarine. The reason we bought the Prius was that our two other vehicles are a Lincoln Aviator and a Ford F150. Our commute is 60 miles each way and the fuel savings is notable and although the Prius is an expensive commuter car, I would rather rack up the miles on it rather than the big toys. Actually, the Prius is fun to drive not because you can "light em' up" but you can focus on the fuel-vs-electricity usage gauges rather than watching the road and it fits big boys quite comfortably. I wouldn't buy another one but the one we have is fine - I think I will go out and play horseshoes. Later
Way to go!!! No wonder this country just keeps sliding further down the economic scale. Keep supporting other economies, keep sending jobs overseas, keep building a future for other countries children! Thank goodness for McDonalds, hiring 50K people this month! I wonder how long it takes to pay off that $100K college degree at $7.50 an hour? Oh well Obama will probably bail them out next, anyone with college debt that can't find a job in this country start writing your congressman and see if you can get a check, your sure not going to get a good paying job in this country any more! We have sold our souls and jobs to the rest of the world.
@ac130
You should realize that you are getting thumbs down on your posts because you ramble on like a fool. You have run-on sentences, and spew your opinions as facts. By the end of reading your posts, very little of it makes sense. Few will give you a thumbs up when you have these qualities to the things you say.
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