Better call your carbon accountant and get your credits up to date. It looks like Toyota's hybrid expansion franchise could be in place by 2009. Japan's Nikkei says the company will start selling a second dedicated brand of hybrid cars that year. No word yet on what the Prius follow-along would be, though the company plans sales of 100,000 units right out of the box, on the way to Toyo's goal of one million hybrid units per year by 2010. That'll be 500 carbon credits, or 490 if you plant 10 trees under your Tahoe-driving neighbor's house. – Mike Spinelli

Toyota to launch new hybrid: Report [Toronto Star]

Related:
Geneva Showcase: Toyota Hybrid X Concept Reveals Next-Gen Prius Design [internal]