We often forget that it’s a big world and the Australian fleet market is a small player in the global automotive industry.
Fleet Auto News thought this timeline on the chronology of the Toyota hybrid would provide an insight into the things that happen outside of Australia.
| Year | Month | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Oct. | Prius concept displayed by Toyota at Tokyo Motor Show |
| Nov. | First Prius prototype built | |
| 1997 | Mar. | Toyota Hybrid System (THS) unveiled |
| Aug. | Coaster Hybrid EV launched (Japan only) | |
| Oct. | Prius unveiled (launched in December) | |
| 2000 | Nov. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 50,000 vehicles |
| 2001 | Jun. | Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only) |
| Aug. | Crown Royal series with Mild Hybrid System launched (Japan only) | |
| 2002 | Mar. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 100,000 mark |
| Aug. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 100,000 vehicles | |
| Oct. | Crown Sedan with Mild Hybrid System launched (Japan only) | |
| 2003 | Apr. | Toyota Hybrid System II (THS II) unveiled |
| Jul. | Alphard Hybrid launched (Japan only) | |
| Sep. | Completely redesigned second-generation Prius launched | |
| Dyna Hybrid and Toyoace Hybrid unveiled (launched in November; Japan only) | ||
| 2005 | Mar. | Harrier Hybrid (Lexus RX 400h) and Kluger Hybrid (Highlander Hybrid) launched |
| Oct. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 500,000 mark | |
| Dec. | Second-generation Prius production commenced at SFTM’s Changchun plant in China | |
| 2006 | Mar. | Lexus GS 450h launched |
| Apr. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 500,000 vehicles | |
| May | Camry Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| Jun. | Completely redesigned Estima Hybrid launched (Japan only) | |
| Oct. | Camry Hybrid production commenced at Kentucky Plant in the U.S.; Quick Delivery 200 launched (Japan only) | |
| 2007 | May | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 1 million mark; Lexus LS 600h / LS 600hL launched |
| 2008 | Feb. | Crown Hybrid unveiled (launched in May; Japan only) |
| Apr. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 1 million vehicles | |
| 2009 | Jan. | Lexus RX 450h unveiled (launched in April) |
| May | Completely redesigned third-generation Prius launched | |
| Jul. | Camry Hybrid production commenced at TMT’s Gateway Plant, Thailand; HS 250h launched | |
| Aug. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 2 million mark | |
| Oct. | Sai unveiled (launched in December, Japan only) | |
| Dec. | Camry Hybrid production commenced at TMCA’s Altona Plant, Australia | |
| 2010 | Apr. | Camry Hybrid production commenced at GTMC’s plant in China |
| Jun. | Auris Hybrid production commenced at TMUK’s Burnaston Plant, UK; Auris Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| Jul. | Cumulative sales in Japan of hybrids top 1 million vehicles | |
| Sep. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 2 million vehicles | |
| Nov. | Third-generation Prius production commenced at TMT’s Gateway Plant, Thailand | |
| 2011 | Jan. | Annual Prius sales in Japan of new vehicles in 2010 were 315,669 vehicles, the largest amount of annual sales ever recorded; Lexus CT 200h launched |
| Feb. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 3 million mark | |
| May | Prius α launched | |
| Aug. | Prius sales in Japan top 1 million mark | |
| Sep. | Completely redesigned Camry Hybrid launched in Japan; Alphard Hybrid and Vellfire Hybrid unveiled (launched in November, Japan only) | |
| Oct. | TMEC of China conducts cornerstone laying ceremony and announces plan to produce and sell vehicles with hybrid systems produced in China jointly with China FAW Group and GTMC around 2015 | |
| Nov. | Prius PHV unveiled (launched in January 2012 in Japan, in March 2012 in the U.S., in the summer of 2012 in Europe) | |
| Dec. | Production of third-generation Prius commenced at SFTM’s Changchun Plant in China; Aqua launched | |
| 2012 | Jan. | Completely redesigned Lexus GS 450h unveiled (launched in March) |
| Feb. | Start of Highlander Hybrid production at Indiana Plant in the U.S. in the second half of 2013 announced | |
| Production and sale of Camry Hybrid in Kuozui Motor’s Kuanying Plant, Taiwan commenced | ||
| Apr. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 4 million mark | |
| May | Yaris Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| Jul. | Start of Lexus RX 450h production at TMMC’s Cambridge Plant in early 2014 announced; Lexus ES 300h launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| Oct. | Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales in Japan top 2 million mark | |
| Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales from January through October 2012 top 1 million mark | ||
| Nov. | Completely redesigned Auris Hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| Dec. | Completely redesigned Crown hybrid unveiled (launched in January 2013, Japan only); Avalon hybrid launched (for sale outside Japan) | |
| 2013 | Mar. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 5 million mark |
| May | Lexus IS 300h launched | |
| Jun. | Cumulative global Prius sales top 3 million units | |
| Aug. | Corolla Axio Hybrid and Corolla Fielder Hybrid launched (Japan only) | |
| Sep. | Crown Majesta (only hybrid version available) launched (Japan only) | |
| Oct. | Lexus GS 300h launched | |
| Nov. | Completely redesigned Harrier Hybrid unveiled (launched in January 2014) | |
| Dec. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 6 million mark | |
| 2014 | Jan. | Voxy Hybrid and Noah Hybrid launched (Japan only) |
| Feb. | Highlander Hybrid production commenced at Indiana Plant in the U.S. | |
| Mar. | Lexus RX 450h production commenced at TMMC’s Cambridge Plant in the U.S. | |
| Cumulative hybrid vehicle sales in Japan top 3 million mark | ||
| Apr. | Plan to start sales of Corolla and Levin models equipped with China-produced major hybrid components in 2015 announced at Beijing Motor Show | |
| Jul. | Toyota Motor (Changshu) Auto Parts Co., Ltd. In China holds opening ceremony; production of hybrid transaxles to start in 2015 | |
| Lexus NX 300h launched in Japan (sales outside Japan began in October) | ||
| Sep. | Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 7 million mark | |
| Oct. | Lexus RC300h launched | |
| Esquire hybrid launched (Japan only) | ||
| 2015 | Jan. | Completely redesigned Alphard hybrid and Vellfire hybrid launched |
| Apr. | RAV4 Hybrid announced at New York International Auto Show | |
| Jul. | Sienta hybrid launched | |
| Cumulative global hybrid vehicle sales top 8 million mark |
