Toyota Prius G Sports Concept, 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota Prius G Sports Concept, 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon

One million hybrids to be sold annual starting 2011 is quick a task. In fact, half that number has barely been achieved in worldwide sales by one car company in 2009. In this case, both the achievement and the goal come from the same company—Toyota. This goal might be lofty for some players in the automotive market, but for Toyota it actually might be possible. Let’s take a look at the status quo and see how far they really have to come to achieve 1 million hybrids being sold annual starting in 2011.

As mentioned above, Toyota sold some 500,000-hybrid car units worldwide. Not to surprising with the popularity and quality of the 2010 Toyota Prius. However, doubling that number isn’t an easy task given the skepticism that still exists in respect to hybrid technology. That isn’t going to stop Toyota according to our partners at AllCarsElectric.com. They report that Toyota’s expected hybrid volume for 2010 maybe as high as 750,000 units. Three-quarters of the way there to meet the 2011 number, but we still have to take a step back and realize it took from 1997 to 2007 for Toyota to produce the first million hybrids.

Ten years is a long time to get 1 million cars on the road. On the other hand, the company did put half a million hybrids on the road last year. So the way we see it is they have a 50/50 shot at making their million-unit mark. The things that may ultimately be the deciding factor are the new technologies coming out of the automotive sector. Cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt could threaten the current market share that Toyota has and plans to achieve.

Bottom line—if there is a car company to achieve sales of 1 million hybrids worldwide in one calendar year, Toyota would be the best bet. That is, if they can keep there quality control in check. The last thing Toyota needs is more recall issues that would make consumers doubt their ability to provide reliable and safe cars.