Toyota to Launch Six New Hybrid Vehicles By End of 2012

Capitalizing on the success of its Prius hybrid, Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has announced that it will introduce six new hybrid models by the end of 2012. Toyota, whose Prius is the top-selling car in Japan, is stepping up its competition in the growing green vehicle market by introducing two hybrid versions of its luxury Lexus brand and four new Toyota models with gas/electric hybrid engines.

Toyota will unveil a fully electric version of its RAV-4 sport utility vehicle this November, and the Japanese automaker announced earlier this year that it is partnering with Tesla Motors to develop a new line of all-electric vehicles. Toyota is hoping that its emphasis on next-generation, fuel-efficient vehicles will help it overcome a drop in sales that followed car recalls earlier this year after reports of safety problems, including uncontrolled acceleration of some Toyota cars.