Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that as of the end of
June, worldwide cumulative sales of the iconic Prius gasoline-electric
hybrid vehicle passed the 3-million mark.
In 1997, TMC launched the Prius, which was the world’s first
mass-produced hybrid passenger car. The second generation followed in
2003, and the third generation in 2009. From the first to third
generation, TMC greatly reduced the cost of the hybrid system by
two-thirds while improving the EPA-estimated ratings for combined
driving by nearly 22 percent. In addition, TMC applied for
1,261 patents relating to the third-generation Prius, achieving
progress worthy of the Prius name (derived from a Latin word meaning “to
go before”).
Since the development of the first-generation Prius, TMC has positioned
hybrid technology as a core technology required for the development of
various types of environment-friendly vehicles and has placed emphasis
on the development and production of core components such as motors,
inverters, batteries and electronic control units (ECUs), giving rise to
substantial investment in Japan.
TMC will continue to conduct R&D and invest in facilities in Japan
for the development of hybrid and other cutting-edge technologies and
achieve sustainable growth by deploying these Japan-developed
technologies across the globe.
In the fiscal year ending March 2014, TMC expects to spend a consolidated 890 billion yen (790 billion yen
unconsolidated)
on environmental technology development, as well as on strengthening
new platform and major component development.
In the same period, TMC also plans to make consolidated capital
expenditure investments of 910 billion yen (up seven percent
year-on-year), with 440 billion yen invested in Japan (up nine percent
year-on-year).
Investments in R&D infrastructure include a new R&D facility
(651 hectares) and the Powertrain Development and Production Engineering
Building (a 12-story structure with a total floor area of 100,000 m²)
in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, that will serve as a next-generation
powertrain development base, as well as the Aerodynamics Laboratory
(capable of producing winds of 250 km/h) located in the Honsha Technical
Center.
Future capital investments by consolidated subsidiaries include an
investment by Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) for expanding battery
production capacity at its Omori Plant in Kosai City, Shizuoka
Prefecture.
Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom
