Toyota Decks Up for Prius

World's numero uno car maker Toyota Motor Corporation isplanning to bring in its best-selling hybrid car Prius in . Thishybrid car can be powered by both petrol and batteries.

According to Mitsuhiro Umeyama, General Manager of Toyota Motor Corporation's global Research and Development division, around 5 per cent of Toyota's automobiles sold globally are hybrids and the company would be satisfied if it matched that percentage in India. To get to 5 per cent, the Japanese car company would have to sell around 2,500 hybrids in the country.

Hybrid cars such as the Prius emit half the amount of carbon dioxide than conventional fuel engine cars.

Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, had said that earlier the Prius hybrid car will be unveiled at the 2010 Delhi Auto Show and will be launched in the first quarter of 2010. Toyota is sticking to its plan despite high import duties that have in the past scuttled plans of other car makers. Here, we cab recall Honda's bad experience while launching the hybrid version of the Civic in India. The hybrid sedan had a low demand because of its 104 per cent import tariff. Honda finally had to give a discount as much as Rs 8 Lakhs to clear its stock in the country.

Mitsuhiro Umeyama, who is in charge of development of new technologies, also laid out Toyota's vision for the future. The car manufacturer will continue to work on electric cars, hybrids and fuel cells. Electric cars are likely for city transport, while hybrids would be used for longer distances, Umeyama said. Fuel cells such as hydrogen could be used by goods transporters, he added. But unlike rivals, the company is not betting on any one alternative fuel platform.

"We think at this stage each type of vehicle is needed for future cities," said Umeyama, adding that he wasn't sure which one will emerge as the favoured choice.

But like rivals Nissan, Toyota has serious plans in the battery market. It already has a battery joint venture with Panasonic Corporation.Toyota Motor Corporation is on track to introduce its first small car for the Indian market in late 2010. The car company has no plans to go down the low-cost route. But, fuel efficiency would also be the focus of the scompany's efforts.