Report: Toyota to increase Prius Alpha production by 70%

Due to unexpected demand, Toyota reportedly has almost no option but to increase monthly production of its Prius Alpha hybrid wagon by 70 percent above its initial target before the end of summer, according to the Nikkei.

Since launching in Japan on May 13th, orders for the Prius Alpha have been pouring in at a rate that has far exceeded Toyota's expectations. In response to demand, Toyota will reportedly boost output from 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles per month.

Toyota unveiled the U.S.-bound Prius V at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January and plans to launch that model in North America later this summer. The launch of the Prius V will be followed by the introduction of the Prius+ – a nearly identical hybrid wagon that will be sold in Europe beginning in mid-2012.

Photos copyright 2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Reuters]