Toyota's hybrid sales on the up

Toyota Ireland has announced significant growth in its hybrid car sales for 2016 compared to 2015.

The company says there has been a recognisable shift in consumer interest towards choosing alternatives to diesel. With sales of electric vehicles down 15% in 2016, the limited distance which users can travel is not an issue for hybrid drivers, as the combination of both a petrol and electric motor means you never have to plug it in.

So far this year Toyota has sold 1,724 hybrid vehicles compared to 758 last year — a 140% increase, meaning that almost 13% of total Toyota sales are now hybrid.

Hybrid is available in six Toyota models including the Yaris, Auris, Prius and the RAV4.

The new 5-door Toyota C-HR crossover launching in November will also be available as a hybrid and is expected to further increase Toyota’s hybrid sales mix in 2017.

Sales from July show that 28% of Auris and 23.3% of Yaris models sold were hybrid, proving a natural transition towards consumers buying hybrid. Year to date, 22% of Auris, 20% of Yaris and 10% of all RAV4 sales are now hybrid.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Gaynor, marketing director, said: “As consumers continue to seek alternatives to diesel, we are noticing a significant awareness and interest in hybrid, which is reflected in the sales this year. The latest figures prove the fact that more Irish consumers are interested in hybrid technology.”