Toyota Targets 2007 U.S. Hybrid Car Sales of Up to 300,000 Units

TOKYO – Toyota Motor Corp has set a target of hybrid vehicle sales in the U.S. of as much as 300,000 vehicles in 2007, which would represent a rise of 50 percent, the Nikkei reported, citing Toyota Motor North America Inc. President Jim Press, in a report appearing on the Web site www.forbes.com.

The Japanese automaker sold 192,000 hybrids in the United States in 2006, and it is now targeting sales of 250,000 to 300,000 this year, the business daily quoted Press as saying at the North American International Auto Show. At the auto show, Toyota unveiled the FT-HS concept — a 3.5L hybrid sports car.