MENU
SEARCHIconic vehicle’s fifth generation is headed to dealerships as hybrids grow in popularity here.
The Prius debuted outside Japan in 2000 after selling in its home country for three years.
Toyota
As Toyota celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Prius in the U.S. with its fifth generation, hybrid sales are hitting new records here.
One of the first mass-produced hybrids debuted outside Japan in 2000, heralded as the “car for the 21st century,” after the Japanese automaker introduced the Prius to its home base in 1997. The nameplate has been synonymous with hybrid vehicles ever since.
U.S. hybrid vehicle sales have only grown, reaching more than 1.6 million last year for traditional hybrids alone, plus nearly 322,000 for plug-in hybrids, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Both categories have steadily grown, especially traditional hybrids.
Purely electric models have also gained, but at just under 1.3 million in unit sales last year, they’re still behind traditional hybrids, though they surpassed plug-in hybrid sales in 2014, the data indicates.
All three electrified categories have nearly doubled sales since 2021, according to the transportation department division.
The 2026 Prius, which Toyota says will hit U.S. showrooms this summer, has evolved from a pedestrian-looking sedan when it debuted here to what the automaker calls “a striking embodiment of sportiness and aggression.”
“With its bold, aerodynamic design, it not only turns heads but also continues to have exceptional fuel efficiency, proving that it remains firmly rooted in its pioneering legacy while embracing the future of driving,” Toyota says in a news release on the new generation.
A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.
Read More →
A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.
Read More →
Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Read More →
Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.
Read More →
Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.
Read More →
Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.
Read More →
The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.
Read More →
The dealership profit center plays an important role in customer retention, and generation Z customers are showing the highest loyalty rates, based on recent CDK Global data.
Read More →
The Point Predictive study traced a pattern across more than 100 websites it believes are being developed by an international theft ring.
Read More →
