EUROPEAN fleets are among the biggest users of the Toyota's electric/petrol hybrid, the Prius, which has sold 3,250 units in Europe to date.

The bulk of the sales are in northern Europe, with 655 units sold in Germany, 474 in Holland, 360 each in Sweden and Switzerland and 870 in the UK.

The manufacturer said: 'Substantial government incentives have made the Prius still more attractive, particularly to fleet purchasers.'

It claims that more than 40% of initial buyers owned a more expensive vehicle as their previous car.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Europe director of customer services, Steve Settle, said the Prius had been helped by the 'media's avalanche of coverage in all markets stimulated by the revolutionary technology and also by the numerous awards this product has won'.

The Prius, the world's first mass-produced, mass marketed hybrid vehicle, was first introduced in December 1997. At the time, says Toyota, while industry experts agreed that the petrol/electric hybrid technology was impressive, they questioned its market acceptance.

Toyota said: 'Now the results are in. The public is more receptive than even Toyota expected.' The car is now sold in 20 countries.

  • Toshiharu Takasu has now taken up his new position as president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing France. He replaced Hiroaki Watanabe, who returns to Toyota in Japan. 'We welcome and congratulate Toshiharu Takasu, who we feel confident will continue the innovation, dedication and drive displayed by his predecessor,' said Toyota Motor Europe president Dr Shuhei Toyoda.