Toyota to introduce hybrid vehicle, small car in China

Shanghai, May 4 (Gasgoo.com) Toyota Motor is set to launch its plug-in hybrid vehicle in China as test and is also planning a new model for the country's small-sized, low-priced car segment by 2015, Dow Jones reported recently, citing company executives.

According to Toyota officials at the recent Beijing auto show, the plans come as part of the Japanese carmaker's efforts to regain customer trust after it recalled millions of cars globally due to safety concerns and defects, including more than 75,500 RAV4 SUVs in China.

China, the world's largest auto market, is a growth area for Toyota's sales. The Japanese company sold 709,000 vehicles in China last year, up 21% and is targeting a 13% growth to 800,000 units this year. First-quarter sales grew 40% from a year earlier to 178,200.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota's executive vice president, said the company wants to introduce its plug-in hybrid cars on a trial basis to the Chinese market as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Masahiro Kato, president of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., said the Japanese automaker is considering a new, small, low-priced car for the Chinese market. He hopes to bring it to market in five years.

Toyota Motor said last week that it would begin production at a new Chinese factory in the first half of 2012. The site would be the third factory operated by Toyota's local joint venture with FAW Group.

The 3.8 billion yuan ($557 mln) new plant will initially produce the Corolla model at 100,000 units a year. Toyota currently has total annual capacity of 800,000 units in China.