Which Japanese automaker introduced the Prius hybrid?

Toyota introduced the Prius, the Japanese automaker’s pioneering mass-market hybrid car.

Toyota launched the first-generation Prius in Japan in 1997, making it the world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle. The name comes from the Latin word for “prior,” reflecting Toyota’s intention to introduce a new kind of automobile before its time. The Prius reached North America and Europe in 2000 and became internationally recognized for combining a gasoline engine with electric-motor assistance.

Unlike a battery-electric car, a conventional Prius does not normally need to be plugged in. Its hybrid system recovers energy during braking and stores it in a battery, then uses that energy to assist the engine or move the car at low speeds. This design improves fuel economy and reduces tailpipe emissions compared with many conventional cars.

Honda also developed important hybrids, especially the Insight, but it did not introduce the Prius. Nissan became strongly associated with battery-electric vehicles through the Leaf, while Mazda pursued different engine and electrification strategies. Toyota later expanded the Prius nameplate to include plug-in hybrid versions.