Toyota has managed to rack up one million sales of its petrol-electric Prius hybrid since the car first went on sale in Japan in late 1997. At the end of April this year, Toyota said it had sold 1,028,000 Prius units worldwide, with 100,000 even managing to find homes in anti-hybrid Europe. Hybrid sales in Australia have never been high despite Toyota’s popularity here, but with fuel prices continuing to edge higher the situation may soon change.

Toyota’s appeal for a case it lost last year against American company Paice LLC has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, which means the Japanese giant will now have to pay Paice up to $4.3 million in damages for using infringing technology in its Prius hybrid.

As motorists feel the pinch of constantly rising petrol prices, the Australian car industry is looking for more fuel-efficient solutions. Toyota’s experience with hybrid drivetrains gives it an edge in that search, and as the company finalizes its plans to build a hybrid in Australia, it looks like the Altona plant is the front-runner for production.

In March the Toyota Corolla snatched the top sales spot from the long-lived king of sales, the Holden Commodore. For April, Toyota has once again claimed top honors but this time with its HiLux ute.

The rising cost of food, petrol and interest rates means fewer buyers are willing - or able - to make the leap involved in buying a new car. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' sales report for April shows the numbers are down by almost eight percent.

Toyota has announced that it will be joining the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series, with its TRD Aurion joining the long-running brawl between the Holdens and Fords that have been long favoured. The announcement marks a milestone for the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series, With Toyota being the first manufacturer to directly support one of Australia's biggest races.