Toyota said July 10 that it plans to start assembling its fuel-sipping Prius hybrid car in the U.S. with production slated to begin in late 2010.

"Prius, which will join the Kentucky-built Camry Hybrid as the second Toyota hybrid built in North America, enables Toyota to better respond to increased consumer demand for hybrid vehicles," Toyota said.

Toyota said it planned to start producing the Prius at an assembly plant presently under construction in Blue Springs, Miss. The first U.S.-produced Prius cars are due to roll off the assembly lines in two years time.

The Japanese automaker established its first operations in North America in 1957 and currently runs 13 manufacturing plants.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008