Toyota Prius Cements Hybrid Market Dominance with 3 Million Sales

Baltimore, 07/31/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

Since the introduction of Toyota Prius in 2000, American motorists have quickly taken to the compact car's fuel-efficient ways. That success on the sales floor was punctuated earlier this month when Toyota announced that they have reached 3 million Prius sales, with demand for the third generation reaching unprecedented levels. Helping the auto manufacturer reach this milestone is the expansion of the Prius from a single nameplate to an entire family, with four different models in the current lineup.

Although hybrid vehicles comprised just a fraction of the overall car market at the turn of the century, drivers' perspectives and expectations have changed in the years since, thanks in part to popular models like the Toyota Prius. Today, the Prius is the top-selling hybrid in the United States and Toyota's third best-selling vehicle, bested only by sales of the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla.

"The gas-electric powertrain of the Prius has been continually refined, resulting in it surpassing 50-mpg today. It's certainly a vehicle that returns quick savings to new-car buyers," said Wade Sterry, general manager of Russel Toyota, a Baltimore, MD Toyota dealer. "Although other manufacturers are increasingly competing with Toyota in the hybrid space, the Prius remains the hybrid gold-standard for most drivers, and hitting the 3 million sales mark reflects that perception."

Joining the original Prius Liftback in Toyota's expanded lineup are the Prius c, Prius v and Prius Plug-in. Marketed to urban drivers, the Toyota Prius c is affordable and compact, returning up to 53 mpg in the city. For families, Toyota is offering the Prius v, a wagon version that could be compared to a compact minivan but for its 44 mpg return for city driving. The Prius Plug-in hybrid rounds out the lineup and is the most efficient of the three at an estimated 95 MPGe combined in electric mode.

Not surprisingly, the Toyota Prius was a popular item at U.S. dealerships last month as it surpassed the 3 million mark globally. With its tally up by 10 percent in June compared to the same month last year, the Prius moved more than 21,000 units in the United States, helping Toyota's overall hybrid lineup set a new June sales record.

"Toyota has evolved its Prius lineup so that a much wider cross-section of drivers can see themselves buying a hybrid, whether they are new parents, empty nesters or working their first jobs," added Sterry. "That increasingly diverse customer base has led to growing sales, and we expect demand will keep growing as new Prius owners convince other hybrid hold-outs that a gas-electric drivetrain is not only a viable option, but their best option."

About Russel Toyota:
For more than 40 years, Russel Toyota has relied on a customer-first approach to provide Maryland drivers with only rewarding experiences when it comes to Toyota sales, service and parts. In addition to the dealership’s broad selection of cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans, Baltimore Toyota owners can also take advantage of Russel Toyota’s affordable and thorough maintenance services from their expert team of technicians. Browse their inventory online at www.russeltoyota.com or in person at their Baltimore, Maryland Toyota dealership, located at 6324 Baltimore National Pike. They can also be reached by phone at 410-788-8400 and found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RusselToyota.