As of the end of June, worldwide sales of the various generations of Toyota Prius topped three-million since its 1997 introduction in Japan, according to the company.
That figure makes it by far the most successful gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle ever.
The first-generation Prius (whose name was derived from a Latin word meaning "to go before") was launched in Canada in 2000, as a 2001 model. It was followed by the second-generation model in 2003, and the third-generation in 2009.
Over those generations, Toyota says, it reduced the cost of the hybrid system by two-thirds and increased fuel efficiency by more than 35%. Over the same time, the company applied for 1,261 patents relating to the third-generation Prius.