1,000,000 Toyota hybrid vehicles per year - When?

Is the third generation Prius enough?

Several years ago, Toyota told the world that it planned to sell 1,000,000 hybrid vehicles per year early in the next decade. Many auto analysts and auto execs on this side of the Pacific thought they'd never sell a million hybrids combined, ever.

Today, those critics have egg on their face. Finish: 1,000,000 hybrid vehicles per year - Can Toyota do it next decade?

Toyota Prius battery costs

Still leaving all others in the dust

There are now hundreds of thousands of Toyota Prius hybrids on the roads of America, and a number of them have had their battery warranties expire, particularly first generation Prii. So, if the battery goes out, how much will it cost to replace? $2,299 according to AutoWeek, a reduction of almost $700 compared to the costs of such batteries just a couple of months ago.

Second generation Prius hybrids should still be under warranty, but if the battery does need to be replaced, it would cost $2,588.

No diesel hybrids from Toyota

Not unless diesel fuel costs go down

Toyota is not interested in developing diesel hybrid vehicles due to the high cost of diesel fuel according to Green Car Congress. Even though diesel is the dominate fuel in Europe and many competitors are preparing diesel hybrids for the European market, Toyota believes gasoline hybrids still are more cost effective.