What was the first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle?

The Toyota Prius holds the distinction of being the first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, having been introduced in Japan in 1997 and subsequently in various global markets. Its pioneering technology combined a gasoline engine with an electric motor, enabling improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions compared to traditional vehicles of its time.

The Prius was specifically designed to cater to environmentally conscious consumers and received significant attention, ultimately influencing the automotive industry to explore hybrid technologies further. Its success helped to integrate hybrid systems into more mainstream vehicles, setting a precedent that many manufacturers have since followed.

While the Honda Insight was also an early entrant into the hybrid market, it was not produced in the same volumes or made as significant an impact as the Prius. Other options like the Ford Fusion and Nissan Leaf represent different technological approaches in the automotive space; the Fusion is primarily a conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid, and the Leaf is a fully electric vehicle, which came onto the market much later. Thus, the significance of the Prius as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle is foundational in the context of hybrid technology development.