A 20-year history

1995: Toyota engineers launch the development of the first Prius as part of an environmental action plan created in Japan three years earlier.

1997: Prius goes on sale in Japan, becoming the world’s first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Prius is Latin for “to go before,” suggesting it is a predecessor of cars to come.

2000: Prius is launched in the U.S. market as a 2001 model, starting at $19,995. The fuel economy of 41 mpg earned the Prius a $2,000 clean-burning fuel federal deduction. Toyota sells 5,562 that year.

2002: Toyota works to make the car more mainstream by offering cruise control, daytime running lights, side-impact air bags and navigation. Consumer Reports names Prius “best driving green car.” Annual U.S. sales surpass 20,000.

2004: Toyota introduces a redesigned second-generation Prius that establishes the car’s distinctive egg-shaped styling. The starting price remains $19,995 and fuel economy jumps to 46 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The new model sets a hybrid record speed of 130.794 miles per hour in trials at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. Annual sales more than double to almost 54,000.

2005: Annual U.S. Prius sales cross the 100,000 mark for the first time.

2010: Third-generation Prius is introduced with sharpened styling, more power and a base price of $21,000. Fuel economy hits 50 mpg.

2011: Cumulative Prius sales in the U.S. cross 1 million vehicles.

2012: Prius overtakes the Honda Civic to become the top-selling vehicle in California. Toyota expands the Prius line, introducing the Prius V wagon version and Prius C sub-compact, with the “C” designating a car best used for city driving.

2015: Fourth-generation Prius is introduced. Cumulative sales of the first three generations approach 2 million vehicles.