Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has hit the 100,000 mark with sales of its Toyota and Lexus hybrid models.

Since hybrids were first launched in Europe in 2000, a total of 101,235 vehicles have been sold as of July 31, 2007.

The Prius maintains its position as Toyota’s best selling hybrid, with over 73,000 vehicles sold in Europe since 2000.

Total cumulative sales of Lexus hybrid vehicles have now exceeded 27,000 units in Europe, incorporating the launch of the LS 600h in June.

In 2007, Toyota expects its annual hybrid sales to reach 44,500 units, as part of an overall sales target for Toyota and Lexus vehicles of 1.22 million units.

Thierry Dombreval, executive vice-president of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “These results demonstrate a dramatic shift amongst European customers towards cleaner vehicles which offer greater fuel efficiency and a comfortable drive.”

Toyota and Lexus currently have four different hybrid vehicles in their European vehicle line-up featuring either Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive or the Lexus Hybrid Drive technology. Cumulative worldwide hybrid sales broke the one million unit mark in June this year. Toyota has a global target of one million hybrid sales per year by the early 2010s, with European sales comprising up to 10% of this target.