Toyota Europe Sells Record Number of Hybrids in 2015
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid
Here in the US, 2015 was a bad year for the hybrid because of low gas prices and the rising popularity of light trucks and crossover SUVs. But over in Europe, Toyota had its best-ever year in terms of hybrid sales for a total increase of 17% year-over-year.
In fact, Toyota and its luxury arm, Lexus, saw 24% of its sales in Europe go toward hybrid models, like the Yaris hybrid, which sold a whopping 72,000 units—up 23% over the previous year. Additionally, the new Toyota Auris Hybrid saw sales of 78,500, which was a 12% increase year-over-year. In fact, more than one in three Yaris models sold in Europe is a hybrid, while more than half of all Auris models sold in Europe are hybrids.
Hybrid Models: Look back over the Toyota Prius’ 15-year lifespan
The Toyota Auris Hybrid
“Our excellent hybrid sales performance demonstrates that European consumers look beyond gas price fluctuations and are attracted by the benefits of driving a hybrid, and not just that they save on fuel and emissions,” explained Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.“Those include very low cost of ownership, the pleasure of quiet driving and the benefit of an electric drivetrain with no range anxiety.”
Over at Lexus, hybrid sales soared 24% to 41,000 total units. This equaled 64% of Lexus vehicles sold across the continent.
Surviving the Winter: Choose one of these Toyotas with all-wheel drive
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.