When Toyota first launched its Prius hybrid, the car and the drivers of such cars have been the butt of jokes, but it seems that Toyota and owners of hybrids could be getting the last laugh because in a recent announcement by Toyota, the carmakers has confirmed that as of 31st January, 2017, they have managed to sell 10 million hybrid and plug-in hybrids to date.

According to Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor North America, “The Prius stands as an icon for sustainability and efficiency, and is a shining example of what you can achieve when you have the right idea to help solve a problem. Hybrids remain an important part of our lineup of vehicles, with over 246,000 units sold last year, and we have seen continued demand with the release of the RAV4 Hybrid variant of the popular compact SUV, accounting for nearly 13 percent of its total sales volume in 2016.”

Takeshi Uchiyamada, co-chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota and also known as the “father” of the Prius adds, “When we launched Prius, no one even knew what a hybrid was, but, thanks to early adopters, hybrids have ridden a wave of success into the mainstream. We are grateful to each and every one of our customers who have helped us achieve this important [global] milestone.”

In addition to boasting 10 million hybrid sales, Toyota is estimating that because of the number of hybrids they’ve sold, there are 77 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions, and also there is 7.66 billion gallons of gasoline that have been saved as a result.

Filed in Green >Transportation. Read more about .

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