toyota hybrid

Toyota Motor Corp plans to introduce six new hybrid vehicles by the end of 2012 and bring an electric vehicle to the U.S. market that year also, a top research and development executive said on Monday.

The six planned models will expand Toyota’s hybrid-engine range of vehicles that run on gasoline and electricity at a time when rivals such as Nissan are developing all-electric vehicles.

The Wall Street Journal, citing a Toyota official in Detroit, said that the six new hybrids would include two luxury brand Lexus vehicles and four Toyota models.

Meanwhile, Toyota will take the wraps off its electric version of the RAV4 sport utility vehicle at a motor show to be held from mid-November in Los Angeles, the officials said. The electric vehicle is now under development jointly with U.S. venture Tesla Motors Inc