Worldwide Prius sales top 3-million mark; Prius family sales at 3.4 million
03 July 2013
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that as of the end of June, worldwide cumulative sales of the Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle (generations I, II and III) passed the 3-million mark. (The figure is based on worldwide cumulative sales through the end of May 2013 plus June sales in the US.) Total global Prius nameplate sales (the expanded Prius family) are at 3.436 million units.
TMC launched the Prius in 1997. The second generation followed in 2003, and the third generation in 2009. From the first to third generation, TMC greatly reduced the cost of the hybrid system by two-thirds and increased fuel efficiency from 28 km/L to 38 km/L (65.0 mpg US to 89.4 mpg US, as measured using the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). In addition, TMC applied for 1,261 patents relating to the third-generation Prius.
| Cumulative Prius Sales | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Cum. sales (1000s) | Production status | ||||
| Prius I | 123 | ended Aug 2003 | ||||
| Prius II | 1,192 | ended Dec 2011 | ||||
| Prius III | 1,688 | on-going | ||||
| Total Prius | 3,002 | |||||
| Prius +/Alpha/v | 322 | on-going | ||||
| Prius PHV | 35 | on-going | ||||
| Prius c | 75 | on-going | ||||
| Total nameplate | 3,436 | |||||
Since the development of the first-generation Prius, TMC has positioned hybrid technology as a core technology required for the development of various types of environment-friendly vehicles and has placed emphasis on the development and production of core components such as motors, inverters, batteries and electronic control units (ECUs), giving rise to substantial investment in Japan.
TMC says it will continue to conduct R&D and invest in facilities in Japan for the development of hybrid and other advanced technologies and achieve sustainable growth by deploying these Japan-developed technologies across the globe.
In the fiscal year ending March 2014, TMC expects to spend a consolidated ¥890 billion (US$8.9 billion)—up 10% year-on-year—on environmental technology development, as well as on strengthening new platform and major component development.
In the same period, TMC also plans to make consolidated capital expenditure investments of ¥910 billion (US$9.1 billion), up 7% year-on-year, with ¥440 billion (US$4.4 billion) invested in Japan, up 9% year-on-year.
Investments in R&D infrastructure include a new R&D facility (651 hectares) and the Powertrain Development and Production Engineering Building (a 12-story structure with a total floor area of 100,000 m2) in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, that will serve as a next-generation powertrain development base, as well as the Aerodynamics Laboratory (capable of producing winds of 250 km/h, 155 mph) located in the Honsha Technical Center.
Future capital investments by consolidated subsidiaries include an investment by Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) for expanding battery production capacity at its Omori Plant in Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
A success story? The Prius IV HEV, with improved lighter batteries(in 2015?), will certainly do even better (50Km/L).
Posted by: HarveyD | 03 July 2013 at 07:41 AM
The sales report by TMC seems rushed and clumsy. Toyota Aqua sales in Japan are not included together with the Prius c (same vehicle different badging). More than 350K Aquas have been sold in Japan, and in fact, it was the top selling new car for several months last year.
Cumulative sales report global figures through May 2013 but US through June?
Well, the important fact is that the Prius liftback has reached the 3 million milestone.
Posted by: Mariordo | 03 July 2013 at 07:41 AM
This is one of the 3 pillars of high efficiency motoring:
Hybrid (Japan)
BEV (Japan+US)
Diesel (Europe)
* ICE++
Each drives the other in terms of performance and the results, backed up by EU CO2 mandates, CAFE and expensive oil have been impressive over the last 10 years (and more to come).
* OK, improved ICEs as well (like the Ford Ecoboost 1.0L and Mazda skyactive) [ but I wanted 3 pillars ]
Posted by: mahonj | 03 July 2013 at 01:07 PM
Yes this report is hastily prepared.
Another report from same website says that Prius C sales is 409,000 at the end of March 2013
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/04/tmc-20130417.html
Toyota Aqua which is exactly the same as Prius C and probably has the Hybrid system of Prius Gen-2 is missed out in the over all #. If we include, it may comes to some 3.8 million mark.
Prius Gen-2 sold even after Prius Gen-3 was launched in May 2009, but did it sell until December 2011 which is another 2 years and 8 months. Doubtful.
Ideally all dedicated hybrids of Toyota like Aqua, Auris, Auris wagon, Yaris can be called as Prius. After all its not a name of any person, place or animal.
Prius means "to go before in Greek". No idea why Toyota wants to call the Prius models differently in different countries.
I guess the Prius Gen-3 will hit 2 million mark before the MY-2014 comes into market. Significant part of Gen-3 is the 1 mile Eco mode range and the extra trunk space. Hope the Gen-4 will have higher Eco mode range.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 03 July 2013 at 05:26 PM
HarveyD,
That's what people here were writing about the Prius III before it came out, and it turned out to only be marginally more economical than the II. The latest Prius (the C) is a step back; it gets similar mileage to the III in a smaller less convenient package.
I am not getting my hopes up. It looks like they've extracted what they can out of the hybrid platform. They need to either improve the ICE efficiency (GDI, turbo), or more likely the battery capacity. Even that won't help much because of diminishing returns (witness the plug-in Prius).
Posted by: Bernard | 04 July 2013 at 10:32 AM
Yes Bernard, many real improvements will have to be done to reduce drag and friction, reduce components and body weight, to improve the battery with a lighter, higher capacity, ultra quick charge unit to recover more braking energy and accelerate to 100+ kph on e-energy only etc. Secondly, the on-board ICE will have to be improved, possibly with a higher compression, light weight smaller diesel unit or an improved higher compression gasoline ICE unit etc.
Question: Would an improved HEV become a sort of PHEV?
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 July 2013 at 06:05 PM
Most, if not all, e-ancillaries, e-motors, controllers-converters and associated software could be made to be more efficient. Some 40+ sq.ft. of very high efficiency (30+%) solar panels integrated into the roof and hood would also help to get a few more Km/L?
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 July 2013 at 06:13 PM
Prius C is 500 lb lesser than Prius Liftback and should easily hit 55 + MPG. But Toyota probably ignored the improvements fearing that it will cannibalize Prius sales and probably Corolla sales.
Can you believe Honda Insight sells in such low # when all other Honda models sell in 10,000 + mark.
Automakers just play around. If other companies like Ford, GM, Hyundai launched Prius sized / shaped vehicle, then the competition will accelerate.
May be Ford should launch Focus Hatch Hybrid to compete with Prius.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 04 July 2013 at 09:14 PM
@HarveyD
The 30%+ solar panels are very expensive and normally used in concentrating systems which don't lend themselves for automotive use.
Posted by: soltesza | 06 July 2013 at 02:18 AM
Max,
Ford's C-Max is built in the same plant/similar platform as the Focus and is a hybrid and there's also a Plug-in Hybrid version in addition to the pure BEV Focus.
HarveyD,
Utilizing semi-transparent polymer roofs is more feasible. The roof can be mostly flat and oftentimes vehicles are sold with sunroofs anyway. This technology could help prevent the interior from being heated as much and could also help charge the battery and keep unoccupied temperatures down by powering the ventilation system. This would in turn reduce the cooling load and allow for smaller radiator openings = improved aerodynamics.
http://www.gizmag.com/ucla-transparent-solar-panel-infrared/23407/
Maybe you're thinking of something like Cambridges solar car? http://www.gizmag.com/resolution-cambridge-university-world-solar-challenge/28197/
Posted by: Trevor Carlson | 10 July 2013 at 03:04 PM