Toyota sets new push for Prius in China

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to start selling its latest generation Prius cars in China next year, according to company executives, despite poor sales there of the current version. The new version of Toyota’s fuel-efficient vehicle could go on sale as early as March, with a planned sales target of 3,000 new vehicles a year. A key reason for Toyota’s new optimism is the expectation that China’s central government will introduce a consumer-incentive program as part of its overall effort to improve the nation’s fuel efficiency. Executives expect the measure will spur sales of electric-battery cars, gasoline-electric hybrids like the Prius and other “new energy” cars. An announcement of the program is expected later this year. (August 13, 2009)