Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday it will begin limited marketing of its fuel-cell hybrid car by the end of this year, a year earlier than originally planned, in order to raise social awareness of the clean-running vehicle.
Japan's top car manufacturer said the vehicle, which will run on pure hydrogen, will be available by lease. The firm expects some 20 units to be leased to limited customers in Japan and the United States in the first year.
The expected customers include governments, research institutes and energy-related companies located in areas where Toyota has confirmed the availability of a hydrogen supply and after-sales service. Toyota aims to encourage the development of infrastructure as well as public understanding and support of hydrogen fuel through the business, the firm said.