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Toyota to Begin Making Fuel Cells Cars in December?

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to launch commercial production of its first fuel cell-powered car in mid-December, several months ahead of its previously announced 2015 target, according to The Japan Times.

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Toyota Motor Corp. plans to launch commercial production of its first fuel cell-powered car in mid-December, several months ahead of its previously announced 2015 target, according to The Japan Times.

The newspaper cites unidentified sources who say the car, unveiled in concept form as the FCV at last year's Tokyo auto show, initially will be priced in Japan at about 8 million yen ($78,000). Toyota hopes to lower the car's price to as little as 3 million yen ($29,300) in the next decade.

Toyota and Honda Motor Co. said in March they intended to begin selling fuel cell vehicles sometimes next year. Honda's $97,000 car reportedly will be able to cover 500 km per tank of compressed hydrogen gas.

Both companies have been leasing fleets of fuel cell-powered cars. But those vehicles have been available only to company or government fleets.

Earlier reports indicated Honda and Toyota each hopes to make about 1,000 fuel cell vehicles per year to sell in Japan, Europe and the U.S.

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