Global sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have reached a new milestone after clocking up more than two million purchases.
Eco car insurance policyholders may be among the European customers who accounted for roughly one in ten of the sales.
The green car specialist was behind the launch of the world's first mass-produced hybrid, the Prius, in Japan in 1997.
Over the last 12 years, more than 2.01 million of the brand's hybrid vehicles have been sold worldwide.
Toyota currently sells 13 different dual power models in 50 countries and regions around the world including three commercial vehicle designs available exclusively in Japan.
The company claims that since 1997, its hybrid cars have led to roughly 11 million fewer tons of carbon emissions than would have been released by equivalent petrol-powered cars.
UK motorists were first given the chance to go green in 2000 with the launch of the first Prius, which has since sold more than 30,000.
Launched last month, the latest third generation model from Toyota is already said to have generated more than 3,000 customer orders in the country.
Over the next few years, the firm plans to launch ten different hybrid models to the UK market, including an eco version of the Auris hatchback.
Looking forward to 2020 onwards, it hopes to eventually offer a dual power version of every model currently on offer.
In related news, vehicle manufacturer Kia is set to unveil a new eco model to those attending this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.
The South Korean firm is transporting a Forte LPI Hybrid concept car to Europe for the first time to illustrate its research plans for next year.
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