Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has delayed the domestic launch of a new plug-in hybrid model of its popular Prius eco-friendly cars from the fall until this winter, as it needs more time to produce enough vehicles for the debut.
"We decided to reduce initial production from our original plan to make sure we deliver better vehicles," a Toyota official said.
With a far bigger battery capacity, the new model can drive over 60 kilometers without relying on gasoline, more than doubling the distance traveled by its existing models.
Toyota has sold around 75,000 units globally since it rolled out its first plug-in hybrid model of the Prius in 2012.