Toyota to manufacture Prius hybrid in Thailand

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. will start producing its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid in Thailand by year end at the earliest, officials told Jiji Press. The automaker plans to export its hybrid system including the powertrain and batteries–from Japan and produce thousands of units of the vehicle annually in Chachoengsao province. Thailand is expected to be the only production base for the Prius outside Japan for the time being. (August 7, 2010)