After helping to pioneer the technology more than 20 years ago, Toyota and Lexus continue to offer consumers an expansive lineup of hybrid vehicles. Toyota recently expanded its hybrid battery warranty, now offering 10 years and 150,000 miles of coverage, with Lexus doing likewise. In 2020, the Japanese automaker has just hit a major milestone, selling 15 million hybrid vehicles worldwide.

Starting with the Prius in 1997, there are now 44 different Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles available around the world and in Europe alone, 2.8 million customers have opted for the combination of gasoline and electric propulsion. 52 percent of Toyota's European sales come from hybrids and in Western Europe, that figure is 63 percent.

Toyota's hybrid dominance is even more impressive when you consider the breadth of products available right now. There are affordable and utilitarian options like the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as well as more opulent status symbols like the 2021 Lexus LC 500h. Toyota says that thanks to the sales of its hybrid vehicles (when compared to conventially-powered gas models), it has helped save more than 120 million tons of CO2 emissions.

"Thanks to our hybrid sales, Toyota is well on track to meet the EU's 2020 and 2021 target of 95 grams per kilometer in Europe, where CO2 regulations are the strictest in the world," said Matt Harrison, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Europe. "Our effective full hybrids are completely emission-free in cities most of the time."

Toyota continues to improve and develop hybrid vehicle technology and by 2025, the company plans to roll out 40 new or updated electrified vehicles. 10 of these will include pure electric models, one of which will be the Europe-only Lexus UX300e. "Of course, we have to work hard to improve battery capacity and reduce the cost of electric vehicles, which we do. Until we overcome the hurdles associated with electric cars and fuel cell vehicles, we are making an important contribution with our work on hybrid models, "said Shigeki Terashi, Chief Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation.