Al-Futtaim Motors has seen remarkable growth in Toyota hybrid vehicles sales in H1 2017, with the Prius and Camry models registering growth rates of 535% and 430%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2016.
The Toyota Prius, launched in the UAE in February 2016, is the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle employing both a petrol engine and an electric motor, and its fuel efficient system can deliver up to 26.1km per litre of mileage.
Globally, over 3.7 million Prius vehicles have been sold since its introduction by Toyota in 1997, out of a total of 10 million hybrid vehicles sales, which collectively has resulted in approximately 77 million fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions and saving approximately 29 million kilolitres of gasoline.
In the UAE, The Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles has proved popular with taxi operators, and more than 1,000 units have now been purchased across the Dubai Taxi Corporation, Cars Taxi, National Taxi, Metro Taxi, Arabia Taxi, Citi Taxi, Union Taxi and Emirates Cab.
Saud Abbasi, MD of Toyota at Al-Futtaim Motors, said: “This positive growth for the Prius and the Camry hybrids is proof that our customers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and financial benefits of owning hybrid cars.
“Studies show that a regular person could save up to one tonne of CO2 a year by using a Prius, while a fleet of hybrid taxi cars could save more than 30% on fuel. Given current fuel prices in the UAE, it costs the Prius customer AED 6.7 to drive a distance of 100km in his car.”
He added: “Our hybrid cars offer an immediate solution to a greener UAE, requiring no additional infrastructure development, no external charging and no changes in driver behaviour.
“In light of the sustainability initiatives that the UAE government is implementing as part of its UAE Vision 2021, we take pride in being the pioneer in sustainable motoring and our customers’ confidence in our hybrid offerings reiterate our position.”
Al-Futtaim Motors has also recently stepped up its efforts to introduce the zero-emission hydrogen-powered electric Toyota Mirai in the UAE, and earlier this year, announced a partnership with Toyota, Masdar, ADNOC and Air Liquide to deliver hydrogen infrastructure in the Emirates.
Al-Futtaim Motors has already deployed a number of Mirai fuel-cell vehicle for testing on UAE roads.
