Toyota To Begin Hybrid Car Production In Australia, Thailand

June 7, 2008 12:00 p.m. EST

Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Japanese auto giant Toyota Motors Corp has announced that it will start producing the Camry hybrid in Australia by 2010.

Toyota will also start production at its Thailand plant later this year in line with the company's aims to reach a target output of 10,000 hybrid units by 2012 at both plants.

The Japanese carmaker is the pioneer of hybrids - cars which switch between a regular engine and an electric motor. The hybrid, introduced by Toyota in 1997, became popular especially in North America.

Toyota's hybrid output rose 25 per cent to reach 430,000 units in 2007. The company expects the number to hit one million units in early 2010.