For Second Time in a Year, a Hybrid Version of Toyota Yaris Is Said to Be Planned

For Second Time in a Year, a Hybrid Version of Toyota Yaris Is Said to Be Planned

By Scott Doggett September 7, 2010

Reuters is reporting that Toyota intends to begin producing a hybrid version of the Yaris subcompact at its factory in France starting next April.

Citing the Mid-Japan Economist newspaper, the news service said today that the gasoline-electric Yaris, called Vitz in Japan, will be sold in Europe. The paper, which is owned partly by Toyota, did not reveal its source.

A Toyota spokeswoman said the automaker could not comment on future product plans.

This is not the first time a report has circulated that a hybrid version of the Yaris is in the works. France's La Tribune newspaper ran a report last year stating that Toyota was planning on building a small hybrid at the same French factory where is builds the Yaris subcompact.

It should also be noted that Europeans tend to prefer diesel engines over hybrid systems in their compact and subcompact cars, and notions that maybe the hybrid version could make its way to the U.S. would have to be tempered by the fact that the strength of the Japanese yen is making it unprofitable for Toyota to export  the Yaris from Japan.  

Regardless, Toyota recently announced plans to add a hybrid option to all of its models by 2020, so perhaps it's only a matter of time before a two-fuel Yaris/Vitz comes to the European (and, hopefully, U.S.) market.

As the Reuters article noted, Honda has announced plans to to launch a hybrid version of its subcompact Jazz/Fit in coming months. That model is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, which starts at the end of this month.

Toyota has already announced that it will make its Hybrid Synergy Drive  technology the focus of its stand at the show, so we're looking forward to a small-hybrids showdown of sorts in the City of Lights very soon.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.