REPORT: Toyota plans to manufacture up to 30,000 plug-in hybrids in 2012

Fanning competition against GM’s upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in, the Nikkei business daily reports that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to manufacture 20,000 to 30,000 plug-in hybrids in 2012. Toyota allegedly wants pricing comparable to Mitsubishi’s all-electric car, which is set to debut this month to fleet customers in Japan (both vehicles are eligible for government subsidies).

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Fanning competition against GM’s upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in, the Nikkei business daily reports that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to manufacture 20,000 to 30,000 plug-in hybrids in 2012. Toyota allegedly wants pricing comparable to Mitsubishi’s all-electric car, which is set to debut this month to fleet customers in Japan (both vehicles are eligible for government subsidies).
Toyota’s plug-in vehicles will be powered by lithium-ion batteries co-developed with Panasonic EV Energy Co. and are expected to offer a full-charge range between 20 to 30 km (12.4 to 18.6 miles) on battery power alone. According to the paper, Toyota would not comment on future product plans.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req’d]