The new century was the start of a technical revolution in the automotive world. In 2000, three years on from its debut in Japan, the original Prius arrived in Europe as a sedan powered by a new powertrain that comprised both a conventional petrol engine and an electric motor.
A new concept in motoring
Our environmental vision and early investment in R&D meant that by the time Prius was ready to be marketed to our customers, we were completely confident in its quality and ability to deliver the performance we promised. The faith we had in the Prius was reflected in the fact that it was the first car in Europe to be sold with a five-year/100,000 km warranty. The first-generation Prius also introduced people to a new concept in motoring. This meant that its initial appeal was as a niche alternative to the conventional petrol and diesel models European customers knew and trusted.