Toyota to produce hybrid in China
cars, China Daily reports.
"We've decided to develop vehicles equipped with hybrid power trains that are made in China, and will try to start production and sales at our Chinese joint ventures in 2015," said Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president.
Toyoda revealed this at a ceremony to mark the ground-breaking of Toyota's wholly owned R&D centre in Changshu, a city near Shanghai.
According to Gasgoo, Toyota has invested a total of $689 million into the 2.34 million square metre site. Energy-saving and new energy vehicles are to be the focal point for the R&D centre.
Toyota has already begun researching hybrid technology in the country, and has formed several relationships with domestic auto part and resource suppliers. The third-generation Prius will be produced in China next year.
The Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technical Centre will communicate with a number of external parties, carry out field operational tests, and have a mind on launching environmental vehicles such as plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, TheGreenCarWebsite states.
Furthermore, Toyota has outlined plans to establish a development group for the production of China-made hybrid vehicles.
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