Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will start mass-producing next-generation electric vehicles in the early 2010s, demonstrating a renewed commitment to develop fuel-efficient cars.
Faced with rising materials costs, the U.S. slowdown and soaring gas prices, the company also said Thursday it is lowering its global sales target for 2009 to 9.7 million vehicles, down from 10.4 million.
On the ecology front, it will also introduce plug-in hybrids for corporate users by the end of 2009, a year earlier than its initial plan.
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