Toyota aims to flood the market with hydrogen-powered cars

Geneva: Toyota said it aimed to sell hydrogen-powered cars in the "tens of thousands" a year by 2020, signifying a big commitment to fuel-cell technology by one of the industry's top-selling carmakers.

The Japanese producer said it planned to begin testing hydrogen-powered cars in Japan this year, followed later by tests in the US and Europe. It will launch sales of a saloon-size fuel-cell car by 2015.

"The fuel cell has the potential to replace the cars we have today," Takeshi Uchiyamada, the Japanese producer's head of research and development, told the Financial Times. "By about 2020 when there really will be real penetration in the market — we are preparing to be able to sell tens of thousands of units per year."

Toyota had previously spoken of launching a hydrogen car in 2015, but had not set numerical sales targets.

Because of its size, Toyota's bets on alternative technologies carry significant weight in the car industry. The Japanese producer was the industry's first to invest heavily in hybrids such as the Prius, which nearly all of its big competitors are also adding to their line-ups.

— Financial Times