First Hybrid Car Manufactured In Australia

It took long enough, but Australia finally has its own domestically built hybrid car:

AUSTRALIA’S first locally-built hybrid-powered car will roll off Toyota’s Melbourne production line today.

The cleaner, greener Toyota Camry is the first market-ready hybrid car to be completed at Toyota’s Australian headquarters at Altona, in Melbourne’s west, Toyota spokesman Glenn Campbell said.

Dignitaries at the event will include federal and Victorian government representatives and Toyota Motor Corporation executive vice-president Yukitoshi Funo, who is visiting from Japan.

Other hybrid Camrys have been produced under a pilot program operating at the Altona factory since August, Mr Campbell said.

The car is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor that kicks in when the car is cruising.  [AAP]

It is actually a pretty nice looking car.