Toyota to debut electric vehicle in Japan in 2012

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to market a new electric vehicle (EV) based on its iQ ultracompact car in 2012 in Japan, roughly coinciding with its release in the United States, informed sources said. With Japan’s top carmaker venturing into the EV market, competition is expected to intensify among major carmakers, with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. already selling such eco-friendly cars, while Nissan Motor Co. is due to release its model in December. Toyota’s planned EV will be fitted with a proprietary battery and is likely to have a shorter range than regular gasoline-powered cars. To add cars with longer ranges to its eco-friendly vehicle offerings, the company also aims to begin selling plug-in hybrids in 2012. (November 11, 2010)