Canadians Pick Prius, World's Most Successful Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Vehicle

Joining more than one million environmentally conscious drivers world-wide, over 10,000 Canadians have picked the award-winning Toyota Prius as their choice for personal transportation. Those Canadians have helped make the Prius the world's best-selling gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

"Toyota's commitment to environmental stewardship stretches back over four decades, and it was this belief in sustainable transportation that guided our development of the Prius," said Yoichi Tomihara, President and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc. "We are pleased that so many Canadians have joined others worldwide to make the first mass produced hybrid vehicle successful, and a global icon for environmentally responsible personal mobility.

"The commercial and critical success of the Prius has paved the way to further develop other hybrid models such as the popular Toyota Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid, as well as hybrid editions of a number of Lexus vehicles."

Originally introduced by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1997, the Prius went on sale in Canada in 2000. The current generation followed in 2003, resulting in Canadian sales reaching 11,051 at the beginning of May. Toyota now sells more low-emission, fuel-efficient Prius hybrid vehicles in a single month than in the first three years the vehicle was offered in Canada.

"One quarter of all Canadian Prius sales have been recorded in the past year," observed Mr. Tomihara, "demonstrating that this vehicle continues to attract those concerned about how they can make things better for the environment, while still enjoying the freedom and utility that the Prius delivers."

For the past eight years, the Prius has won an ecoENERGY award administered by Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency. In fact, the 2008 Prius is not only the most fuel efficient car in its class but of all the vehicles tested.