Hybrid cars will for the first time hit Indonesian market in 2007 with Toyota planning to sell the legendary Prius in a limited number.

Local branch PT Toyota Astra Motor has said the sales of Prius will be limited to 15 units on grounds that most of its Indonesian customers are not familiar with the hybrid technology, leading economic daily Bisnis Indonesia said Monday.

Marketing director of Toyota Indonesia Joko Trisanyoto said the sales are intended for more product and technology introduction than profit-making purposes.

"It remains difficult today to decide over how many Prius can be sold here, because the local market has little knowledge about this product," he was quoted as saying.

Japanese car-maker Hodna Motor Corp. is the first to introduce hybrid technology to Indonesia when it handed a gasoline-electric- powered Civic sedan to the government for research.

But Honda has not announced a plan to sell hybrid cars here.

Source: Xinhua