Toyota launched the Prius hybrid car in Japan in 1997.
Toyota developed the Prius as a practical, fuel-efficient “car for the 21st century.” Its first-generation model, known internally as the NHW10, went on sale in Japan in December 1997 through Toyota’s four domestic dealership networks. The name Prius is Latin for “prior” or “before,” reflecting Toyota’s intention to introduce a new kind of vehicle ahead of its time.
The Prius combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery pack. Unlike a conventional car, it can recover energy during braking and use the electric motor to assist the engine, reducing fuel consumption in stop-and-go driving. The original model was sold only in Japan at first; Toyota expanded sales to North America, Europe, and other markets in 2000.
A common mix-up is calling Honda the first automaker to sell a hybrid in every market. Honda’s Insight arrived shortly after the Prius, but Toyota’s Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle and became the best-known early example of mainstream hybrid technology.