Toyota Prius retired: Pioneering hybrid removed from sale in Australia

UPDATE, November 2022: New-gen Prius unveiled

Toyota has revealed its new-generation Prius hybrid, revealing what is surely the most stylish iteration yet of what has historically been an awkwardly styled line of cars. Alas, this is also the first generation of Prius that won't come to Australia. Get all the details at the link below.

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Toyota has announced its ground-breaking Prius hybrid vehicle is set to depart Australia after a 21-year run.

Launched internationally in 1997 as the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and introduced locally in October 2001, the Prius notched up 20,847 units sold in Australia across its four generations. In addition, its Prius C hatch and Prius V people-mover bumped the figure up to 35,947, although both were killed off in the past two years due to low sales.

Thanks to the Prius kick-starting Toyota's hybrid obsession, halfway through last year the manufacturer reached a milestone of 200,000 overall hybrid sales in Australia, going on to record 65,491 hybrids sold last year alone – accounting for all bar 4975 such vehicles sold in the segment and setting a new brand record.

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Year-to-date, just 26 examples of the model have been sold and just 77 units were shifted last year. Less than a year ago, Toyota Australia said the model would live on and it had no intention of dropping the nameplate, although its position has been swayed by poor sales.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, said the Prius's legacy would live on across the manufacturer's other hybrid models.

"When we launched the Prius in October 2001, it was difficult to predict the enormous impact that Toyota hybrids would eventually have on the Australian automotive landscape," said Hanley.

"In 2001, we sold just a handful of Prius cars, taking until mid-2018 to reach 100,000 Toyota hybrid-electric vehicle sales and surpassing the 200,000 sales mark in 2021.

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"The Prius blazed a trail by offering Australian motorists a more efficient and low-emissions motoring experience – traits that have resonated with buyers more and more over time.

"In fact, hybrid-electric vehicle technology, in terms of market acceptance, was not an overnight success. It has taken more than twenty years, but it still forms an important part of Toyota's electrification strategy.

"It recognises practicality, performance and affordability whilst reducing the CO2 footprint of our vehicles. It enables Australian customers to have access to a technology that plays an important role in not leaving anyone behind, as we forge a future towards carbon neutral mobility.

"Last year Toyota sold more than 60,000 hybrid-electric vehicles and we expect that 2022 will continue Toyota's strong leadership in the sales of electrified vehicles. We look forward to continuing the Prius legacy through our broad range of powerful and efficient hybrid-electric offerings."

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Toyota plans to continue selling hybrid cars in the future despite the emerging popularity of electric vehicles, however the manufacturer is also heavily investing in EVs and hydrogen fuel-cell technology to ensure it has a stake in each.

The current line-up of Toyota's hybrid vehicles in Australia includes the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Kluger, C-HR, Yaris and Yaris Cross.