OTHER VEHICLE

The progress of Toyota’s hybrid power technology has reached another landmark with cumulative global sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles reaching 6.072 million units at the end of December. Notably the latest million-milestone has been reached in the fastest time yet, just nine months since the figure moved past five million.

Toyota recognises that its cleaner, efficient technologies can only truly make a positive impact if they are widely used, hence its on-going efforts to encourage the mass-market take-up of its hybrid vehicles.


As of this month, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 24 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world. In the UK, home to production of the hybrid versions of Auris and Auris Touring Sports, the range extends to 10 Toyota and Lexus hybrids, plus Prius Plug-in.

Within the next two years, Toyota will launch 15 new hybrids. It will continue to develop its product range and the number of markets where its hybrid models are available.

Toyota calculates that, as of 31 December 2013, Toyota hybrid vehicles have reduced the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere – believed to be a cause of global warming – by approximately 41 million tonnes, compared to the impact the same number of equivalent petrol-powered vehicles would have. On the same basis, it also estimates its hybrids have saved around 15,000 million litres of petrol.

Toyota entered hybrid vehicle production in August 1997 with the launch in Japan of the Coast Hybrid EV bus, followed in December by the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. Since then Toyota’s hybrids have enjoyed increasing support from customers around the world.

Toyota’s hybrid system is designed as a core technology that can be used in different forms to create environmentally efficient vehicles for different customer requirements. The company will continue to work to raise performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up – including the introduction of environmentally efficient non-hybrid vehicles.

Toyota hybrid vehicle sales – all brands


(1 = 1,000 units)

Cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid passenger vehicles



(1 = 1,000 units) * Including Prius Plug-in; ** including Auris Hybrid Touring Sports.

• Second production model to go on sale in China in 2014
• Retains elegant design and high specification of the Qoros 3 Sedan

The second production model from new international car brand, Qoros, will be revealed at the 84th Geneva Motor Show in March 2014.


The first view of the new model in the Qoros line-up reveals that it will retain the elegant design introduced on the brand’s debut model, the Qoros 3 Sedan, while also introducing distinctive features such as a subtly evolved treatment of the front grille and unique rear LED lamp clusters.

The debutant echoes the high specification and European quality standards of the Qoros 3 Sedan, and is designed to appeal to the young, modern, ‘always connected’ metropolitan customer, with state-of-the-art features including the innovative QorosQloud infotainment system accessed via an eight-inch touchscreen.


True to Qoros’ commitment to introduce a new model every six-to-twelve months, its second model will go on sale in China in 2014, hot on the heels of the market launch in China last month of the brand’s first production model, the Qoros 3 Sedan. The rapid sequence of model introductions is possible thanks to an innovative modular platform and flexible product development processes, led by experienced European senior engineers and supported by globally renowned engineering and systems partners.

The second member of the Qoros family is based on the same modular platform as the Qoros 3 Sedan, which made its world premiere at the 2013 Geneva and Shanghai Motor Shows to widespread acclaim.  It has been praised for its elegant design, refined driving experience, and European standards of quality. In September, it became the first car developed in China to be awarded five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and also earned the highest score so far in the organization’s 2013 assessment program. Qoros plans to expand its line-up steadily over the next few years with the ultimate aim of offering a comprehensive range across of models in all major vehicle segments.

Honda Motorcycles and scooters India is one of the most aggressive company in the two wheeler segment. Honda is focused and determined to take the 2nd position in the Market. Over the past 6 months Honda has launched a number of products in the entry level segment and also in the Scooter segment to beat Bajaj. Finally in June Honda snatched the 2nd position from Bajaj.

Honda sold 2,87,177 motorcycles and scooters in the Indian market. But when we look at overall numbers which include the domestic sales and the exports, Bajaj got the upper hand. June sales figures are so special for Honda. Because, for the first time in its history in the Indian market, Honda has sold more motorcycles than scooters. Honda sold 1,47,635 units of motorcycles while the scooter range managed to put up a respectable 1,39,542 units.

The big push for Honda has come from its new entry level range called the Dream series, which consist of Dream Yuga and Dream Neo. Also the premium entry level bike twister is also helping the Dream twins. Last month Bajaj production at the Chakan plant was affected by the worker strike. Which resulted in less number of bikes produced and hence the sales figures dropped.

The strike at Bajaj plant also helped Honda to secure the second position. Bajaj has solved the issues and the plant is now working in its full capacity. Bajaj entry level offering Discover is also a big success and the company is also planning to launch different iterations of the Discover in the coming months. The battle for the second position will be even hotter now. Lets wait for the August sales to see which company has emerged at the top.