The AP reports, "Toyota's Prius started out a decade ago as a risky experiment in green technology. Today, it's the world's first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle to hit the one million mark in sales."  The Prius, which first hit showrooms in Japan 1997 and the U.S. in 2000, is now sold in more than 40 countries.  Toyota claims that the total number of Priuses sold "has resulted in 4.5 million metric tons less of global warming gases compared with having standard gas engine cars on the road instead of the hybrid."

Though Toyota took ten years to reach 1 million hybrid sales, its goal for the future is much more ambitious.  Thompson Financial explains, "Toyota aims to sell at least one million hybrid vehicles every year from as early as possible in the 2010s." 

Last year, the automaker sold over 400,000 hybrids, according to Reuters.  The first step toward the one-million-per-year goal will most likely be a new, improved Prius.  "Toyota remodeled the Prius with an improved hybrid system in 2003 and is widely expected to launch a third-generation version by next year,"

That third-generation Prius will be larger, faster, and according to Toyota officials, may reach 94 mpg.

Toyota also hopes to reduce production costs for its hybrid system enough to "make the technology available across its line-up" in coming years, Reuters says.

Toyota will have new competition, as well.  GM has invested heavily in the development of its Chevy Volt hybrid, expected to hit showrooms in 2010.

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