Toyota Prius axle from Australia

Australia’s hybrid vehicle leader, ToyotaKilled all starter cars.

Toyota Australia has announced the discontinuation of supply Priusafter 21 successful years as the first Toyota hybrid to be offered in Australia and second overall behind the first-generation Honda Insight.

The first Prius introduced here in October 2001, laying the groundwork for Toyota’s current leading position in the gasoline-electric market saw a record 65,491 hybrid vehicles sold in 2021 – almost a third of all and almost half of its total SUV and passenger car sales.

If ‘Toyota Hybrid’ were a standalone brand, it would be seventh in the market in 2021 between Mitsubishi (67,732 vehicle sales in 20921) and Nissan (41,263).

Along the way, Toyota sold 20,847 Prius units over four generations. Combined with the Prius C hatch (malfunction to pave the way for the Yaris Hybrid) and Prius V people mover (also died in 2021) this resulted in a total of 35,947 sales for nameplates.

Toyota today sells hybrid versions of the Yaris, Corolla, C-HR, Yaris Cross, RAV4, camryand Kluger. In 2021, 72% of RAV4s sold are hybrids, 84% of Camrys, 51% of Corollas, 65% of Yaris Cross’ and 53% of Klugers.

With a premium over non-hybrid vehicles around $2000 to $3000, they are a more viable option than full EVs and are likely to pay back the difference in fuel economy in a few short years. as we have shown here.

However, with all these entry-level models doing so well, few have cared about the quirky and expensive Prius for years now. Total sales hit just 77 units last year and 95 in 2020, making it Toyota Australia’s least popular vehicle – with the exception of the fleet-only Mirai hydrogen FCEV.

Toyota Australia’s vice president of sales, marketing and franchising, Sean Hanley said the legacy of the Prius will “be followed by other low-emission Toyota hybrid vehicles”.

“When we launched the Prius in October 2001, it was difficult to predict the enormous impact Toyota’s hybrid vehicles would ultimately have on the Australian automotive landscape.” Mr. Hanley said.

“In 2001, we only sold a handful of Prius cars, it took until mid-2018 to reach 100,000 Toyota hybrid sales and surpass 200,000 by 2021.

“The Prius has exploded onto the road by providing Australian drivers with a more efficient and low-emissions driving experience – characteristics that have increasingly resonated with buyers over time. In fact, hybrid electric vehicle technology, in terms of market acceptance, did not happen overnight.

“It’s been over twenty years, but it’s still an important part of Toyota’s electrification strategy.

“It recognizes practicality, performance and affordability while reducing CO2 emissions across our vehicles. It gives Australian customers access to a technology that will play a key role in leaving no one behind, as we build a future towards carbon neutral mobility. ”

The Short History of Prius

Toyota has positioned hybrid electric vehicle technology as its core technology since 1997.

The Prius debuted in Australia for the first time with a 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain producing 53kW and 115Nm, combined with a 33kW electric motor.

The second-generation version was unveiled at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, and by the time the third-generation version was launched in 2009, the Prius had accounted for more than 1.2 million deliveries. over 80 countries. And, South Park scandal…

In 2012, the Prius family was expanded to include the new Prius C and Prius V, while a fourth-generation version debuted in 2016. It also appeared as a plug-in hybrid overseas, but not here.

Pushing beyond hybrid cars, Toyota president Akio Toyoda outlined TMC’s dramatic acceleration of planned electric vehicle (EV) output, and the investment that goes with it, in December of this year. last – after the company was accused of being a behind-the-scenes EV.

And to put an exclamation point on top, Mr. Toyoda stands in the middle of the concept Toyota and Lexus battery electric cars (BEV) like he did.

The world’s largest carmaker now plans to offer 30 models of electric vehicles globally by 2030 in the passenger and commercial vehicle segments. This is in addition to the 15 2025 figure it committed to early last year.

THAN: Toyota hybrid breaks sales record, despite scarcity