Toyota introduced the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, the Prius, in Japan in 1997.
The first-generation Toyota Prius went on sale in Japan in December 1997. It combined a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery system, allowing the vehicle to use less fuel in many driving conditions. The Prius expanded internationally in 2000 and became one of the best-known hybrid cars.
Toyota Motor Corporation was established in 1937 and grew into one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. Its scale, global production network, and broad vehicle range have also made it a major public company by market capitalization, although market-cap rankings change with share prices.
The Prius was not the first hybrid vehicle ever built. Earlier experimental and limited-production hybrids existed, including the 1917 Woods Dual Power. Toyota’s distinction is commonly described as producing the first mass-produced modern hybrid car, not inventing the hybrid drivetrain itself.