On January 11, 2010 at the North American International Auto show, Toyota Motor Sales introduced the FT-CH hybrid concept. This would accomplish Toyota’s strategy in offering a wider range of hybrid vehicles to potential car buyers. Toyota is set to roll out the plug-in hybrid model, as well as, the battery electric Toyota cars in the manufacturing year 2012. It will follow that with the hydrogen fuel celled vehicles in 2015.

According to the Toyota Motor Sales President:

“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, TMS president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”

The compact hybrid is best compared to the midsized Prius. It is, of course, compact and easily maneuverable through the city. It is speedy, yet agile.

“It’s a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for,” added Lentz.

As mentioned before, the FT-CH is best compared to the midsized Prius; it is however, a full 22 inches shorter in length and an inch in width. Toyota achieved the compact size without compromising a roomy interior.

Toyota is planning to sell about a million hybrids per year in the early 2010s. They will utilize a specific marketing strategy to appeal to the North American family that will leverage itself with the Prius name. In conjunction, Toyota will be manufacturing eight new hybrid models over the next few years. They will be hybrid models of the already gas powered vehicles.