SAN FRANCISCO (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Corp. President Fujio Cho said Thursday that the automaker may produce its Prius hybrid car in the United States in 2006, due to its popularity in North America.

"Starting local production will help boost demand" for the Prius, he said. Prius sales in the U.S. have brought manufacturing close to a break-even point where Toyota can begin local production, he said.

Cho said Toyota's sales target for the Prius in the U.S. market this year stands at 47,000 vehicles. The estimated break-even point is 50,000.