Japan · First generation launched 1997

Toyota Prius

An engine and an electric motor learned to work as a team.

Everyday icons

Exterior · Photo shows 1997 Toyota Prius NHW10.
1997 Toyota Prius NHW10 at the Toyota Automobile Museum.jpg · Ghostofakina · CC BY-SA 4.0

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A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Toyota launched the Prius in Japan in December 1997. Its hybrid system combined a gasoline engine with an electric motor. The system could stop the engine when it was not needed and recover some energy as the car slowed down.

Look a little closer.

The original Prius was a small sedan. Its familiar sloping hatchback shape came with the next generation.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

Where these facts come from

Toyota · Original 1997 Prius launch announcement

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 28, 2026.

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