Toyota introduced the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Prius, in Japan in 1997.
Toyota launched the first-generation Prius in Japan in December 1997. The car combined a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery system, allowing the powertrain to use energy more efficiently than a conventional gasoline-only vehicle in many driving conditions.
The Prius became a global model when the second generation arrived internationally in 2003. Its name comes from Latin and means “before,” reflecting Toyota’s positioning of the car as an early response to future environmental concerns.
Honda had already sold the two-seat Insight in some markets, beginning in 1999, but Toyota’s Prius was the earlier mass-produced hybrid and became the better-known hybrid nameplate. Hybrid vehicles differ from fully electric vehicles because they retain an internal-combustion engine.