Toyota announced on Thursday that its Prius hybrid has reached a major milestone, eclipsing the 1 million mark in worldwide sales. The Prius was first launched in Toyota’s home market of Japan in 1997, but was brought to other markets around the world — including the U.S. — in 2000.
As of April of this year, Toyota has sold about 1,028,000 Prius hybrid vehicles.
In 2003, the Prius received its first major redesign, which included a new five-door body style and Toyota ’s updated Hybrid System II. An all-new Prius will debut at next January’s Detroit Auto Show, with sales following shortly thereafter.
The Prius — which is the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle — is a major pillar in Toyota’s plan to sell 1 million hybrids annually by sometime in the early 2010s. According to Reuters, Toyota sold 429,400 hybrid vehicles globally last year — up 37 percent from 2006.
