For all Toyota's recent success in China, it's fair to say the Prius isn't one of them. While Americans can't get adequate of the gas-electric hybrid, Chinese sales, blocked by high import taxes, have dissatisfied. Launched in 2005, last year Toyota's China Prius sales were just 1,000 - one third of what had been hoped. At around $36,000 - around $15,000 more than the U.S. - it's easy to mark the cause.

Still, there are fresh signs that Toyota's plans to access ramp up hybrid sales to over one million a year internationally by the early 2010s include China. According to news in Japan today, Toyota will start building hybrid Camrys in China in 2010. Initially, Toyota will make 10,000 of the cars a year at Guangzhou Toyota, its joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group in Guangdong, notes today's Nikkei. That echoes current announcements that Toyota will begin producing Camry hybrids in Australia and Thailand. Toyota expects to advantage as gas prices rise in China and plans by Chinese authorities to give privileged treatment to cleaner cars in the world's second leading automarket.