Toyota's Hybrid Prius Sales Top 500,000 Units

Toyota said on Wednesday cumulative sales of its Prius hybrid car hit 504,700 units worldwide at the end of April, passing the half-million milestone in 8.5 years.

Japan's top auto maker, which became the world's first to offer a gasoline-electric hybrid in 1997, has been leading the industry in promoting the fuel-sipping cars, aiming to sell 1 million units annually in the years shortly after 2010.

Demand has surged, especially after Toyota rolled out the remodelled Prius sedan in 2003 powered by a second-generation hybrid system, which improved fuel economy and performance.

Hybrid cars save fuel by capturing excess energy and feeding it to an electric motor under certain driving conditions.

The auto maker has said it wants to eventually offer the powertrain across its entire line-up. Sales of all of its hybrid vehicles, including on the Lexus badge, passed 600,000 units at the end of March.