Toyota plans electric car for China

Toyota Motor Corp. aims to introduce an electric vehicle in China, Vice Chairman Katsuaki Watanabe said at an international industry conference in Chengdu, China. A subcompact will likely be sold in China, according to a local subsidiary. The cars will initially be imported from Japan, with sales focusing on those cities possessing infrastructure for recharging the vehicles. Watanabe also discussed plans for a plug-in hybrid based on the Prius. Sales will begin on a trial basis in China this year, mainly targeting local governments and companies. After making improvements based on gathered data, Toyota aims to quickly move on to a full-scale launch. (September 17, 2010)