Though it is established as Japan’s leading green car, production of the Toyota Prius is now heading to China.
The Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Company, which is a joint vehicle production company with China FAW Group Corporation, has started production of the vehicle at its Changchun Plant. It is the third generation of the petrol-electric hybrid car and sales are expected to begin in early 2012.
It is not the first time that the Prius has been produced in China. Its production in the country actually began back in 2005, which was the first time the vehicle was ever manufactured outside its native Japan. Similarly, in 2010, GAC Toyota started production of the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Guangdong Province.
Now Toyota is expected to further localise production of hybrid technologies in China, and President Akio Toyoda has outlined his intention to create a development group for Chinese made hybrid cars with localised production by around 2015.
