Toyota will make more than 1 million hybrids this year

"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."

The Who lyric seems apropos, given the news that Toyota may double its hybrid-vehicle production this year and will maintain that sales level for the next three years as it expands both the number of hybrid models it offers and sales efforts to markets throughout Asia.

The world's largest hybrid-vehicle maker will "well surpass 1 million units" sold in 2012 and will exceed that 1-million-hybrid annual sales level for 2013 through 2015, Toyota said in a statement Monday. Toyota also plans to debut no fewer than 21 new hybrid models during the next three years.

Toyota's 2001 hybrid sales were hampered by an earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. It has doubled U.S. sales this year compared to last year. Through August, the company sold more than 221,000 hybrids in the U.S., including more than 199,000 Prius hybrids. Domestic sales have been helped by Toyota's expansion of the Prius line to include compact (Prius C), wagon (Prius V) and plug-in hybrid variants. Toyota also sells hybrid versions of the Camry and Highlander.

 

Courtesy of green.autoblog.com