Toyota President Fujio Cho
Toyota's exhibit at the North American International Auto Show will showcase the left-hand-drive Prius designed for North America, a no-compromise low-emissions passenger car that features Toyota's second-generation hybrid powertrain technology. At the Third Toyota Environmental Forum in October 1999, Toyota President Fujio Cho spoke about the company's environmental technologies and the Prius' upcoming debut. "It's the kind of car anyone might drive," he beams. "Tens of thousands of Prius owners in Japan already enjoy its comfortable, safe, and smooth performance. At the same time, it offers
significantly higher gas mileage than comparable gasoline vehicles. We think drivers in North America will be favorably impressed. Starting in the summer of 2000, we will truly be able to say that the wait is over."
The Toyota Hybrid System, as realized in the Prius, demonstrates the remarkable progress that Toyota has made in creating market-ready low-emissions vehicles. But is the public ready for the mass introduction of hybrid technology? How will hybrid technologies impact the auto industry as a whole?
Setting the Pace for a Greener Future