Toyota’s U.K. Hybrid Sales Reach 100,000 Unit-Mark

Toyota marks 100,000 sales of its hybrid vehicles in the U.K., 13 ½ years after it launched the technology at the British International Motor Show.

It says the numbers confirm the technology now is an accepted and popular part of the mainstream motoring market.

The 100,000^th hybrid is British-built, an Auris Hybrid Touring Sports in top-of-the-range Excel trim, produced by Toyota U.K. at its Burnaston plant near Derby, 130 miles (208 km) northwest of London. Its propulsion system includes a 1.8L VVTi gasoline engine manufactured by TMUK at Deeside in North Wales.

Hybrids are at the heart of Toyota’s investment in U.K. manufacturing, with Auris and Auris Touring Sports models built there for export worldwide.

The original Toyota hybrid offered just one version of the 4-door saloon with a £16,495 ($27,780) price tag. Sales were through a network of 60 Toyota Hybrid Technology Centers, which also were responsible for servicing, repairs and recycling.

Today there are six Toyota hybrids, covering the market from compact superminis and family hatchbacks to 7-seat MPVs. Expansion of the range has gone hand-in-hand with accelerating sales; global sales of Toyota Group hybrids are nearing 7 million.

U.K. enthusiasm for Toyota hybrids is reflected in the fact sales of the hybrid-powered Auris are set to overtake those of the gasoline and diesel versions combined, and the Yaris Hybrid is taking an increasingly large share of overall sales of the supermini.

A fleet customer was taking delivery of the 100,000th U.K. hybrid, reflecting the advantages of low company-car tax rates and running costs and high reliability.

Toyota’s sister brand Lexus is closing in on 50,000 U.K. sales, achieved since the debut of the RX 400h in 2005.