Which Japanese carmaker produces the Prius hybrid?

Which Japanese carmaker produces the Prius hybrid? Toyota produces the Prius hybrid.

Toyota developed the Prius as a mass-market hybrid combining a gasoline engine with electric motors and a battery. The first-generation model went on sale in Japan in December 1997, initially as a compact four-door sedan. It was designed as a car for the 21st century and became one of the best-known hybrid vehicles worldwide.

The Prius reached markets outside Japan in 2000, including North America, Europe, and Australia. Its hybrid system can use the gasoline engine, electric motor, or both, while regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost as heat. This helped distinguish the Prius from conventional gasoline-powered cars.

A common mix-up is treating Prius as a separate manufacturer or assuming every Toyota hybrid is a Prius. Prius is a Toyota model line, while Toyota also sells hybrid versions of vehicles such as the Corolla, Camry, and RAV4. The Prius name has been used across multiple generations since 1997.