Therefore, Toyota with its partners - Panasonic, will build a new production line with an investment of 20 billion yen ($ 194 million) which will produce Li-Ion batteries up to 200,000 units per year, or six times more than now, as the Nikkei reported.
"Demand for Li-ion batteries under consideration, the joint venture company will produce it in Omori factory," said Toyota spokesman in Japan's main business newspaper, as reported by Reuters.
Toyota has sent more than 5 million cars since the hybrid was first marketed in 1997. Of that amount, the Prius accounted for 70% and became the most popular hybrid car in the world. Last year, Toyota sold 1.2 million hybrid cars a year and the first hybrid sales passing the 1 million unit/year.
