Toyota has sold 504,700 Prius hybrids worldwide since its launch in Japan in 1997, up to April this year.

The Prius is now being made outside Japan for the first time, with production for the Chinese market starting in Changchun, China in December 2005.

Overall cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota (including Lexus) hybrid vehicles passed the 600,000 mark at the end of March this year.

Toyota said it regards hybrid systems as representing a ‘key technology for the 21st century’ and said it currently preparing to widen its hybrid vehicle lineup.