Toyota to produce the Prius in Thailand

Toyota's Gateway Plant, situated just outside of the Thai capital Bangkok, already produces cars such as the Corolla, Camry, Camry Hybrid and other models, and will soon add the popular Prius hybrid car to its range, starting from November this year.

Thailand will thus become just the third country to produce the Prius, after Japan and China. Toyota says the move was made as part of its effort to further popularize hybrid vehicles worldwide. Toyota has not disclosed figures as to how many Priuses will be built at the Thai plant, but said they were for the local market.

Toyota Motor Thailand Co. President Kyoichi Tanada commented: "With its excellent environmental performance, design and advanced technologies, we hope the Prius provides even more people in Thailand with the joys of driving."

Toyota sold its two millionth Prius car at the end of September this year, and the car has been an unprecedented success for the company ever since its launch in 1997. Toyota aims to sell one million hybrid cars annually by the end of this decade.