What was the first production hybrid car sold in the United States?

The Honda Insight was the first production hybrid car sold in the United States.

Honda introduced the first-generation Insight in the United States in late 1999 as a 2000 model. It used Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system, combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery pack. The compact two-seat hatchback emphasized low weight and aerodynamic efficiency.

The Insight arrived in the American market before the Toyota Prius, whose first generation had launched in Japan in 1997 and reached the United States for the 2001 model year. This distinction explains why the Prius is often mistakenly named: it was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, but the Insight was the first such hybrid sold in the U.S.

The original Insight was notable for fuel economy, with an EPA highway rating that reached 70 mpg. Its unusual two-seat layout limited practicality, while the later Prius offered more room and eventually became the better-known hybrid.