Toyota Mirai (Photo : www.LAtimes.com)
Toyota is planning to bump up production of its hydrogen fuel-cell-powered "Mirai" car model, even though it is not on the market yet.
In its debut in late 2014, the Japanese automaker has received more than 15,000 "hand raisers"-an expression of interest to buy the car--in the United States alone, USA Today reported. Interested buyers has the option to lease the Mirai for $599 monthly.
Toyota Senior VP Bob Carter announced to reporters during a breakfast for the National Automobile Dealers Association that he asked Toyota Japan to produce more Mirai cars.
Toyota plans to increase its production from the previous 700 units in 2015 up to around 2,000 units next year and about 3,000 units in 2017. The car maker told Edmunds that the production increases will be planned accordingly with each of the regions'-Europe, U.S., and Japan-"hydrogen infrastructure development," car-buying subsidies, energy regulations and other factors.
The Japanese automotive manufacturer reported that around 1,500 orders were made for the Mirai in Japan alone on the hydrogen car's first sales month.
However, the Mirai will have to compete with other fuel-cell-powered cars from other brands, including the 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell and the Honda FCV Concept.
The Toyota Mirai has a price tag of $58,325 and will start to arrive at the California branch of the Japanese carmaker in October this year.
The Mirai's price can still go down to less than $45,000 due to federal and state incentives of around $13,000.
Toyota is also reported to be developing another hydrogen-powered car to be launched two years from now.
