Toyota's new hybrid car unveiled in Durban 'a step towards greener future'

The Trade and Industry Minister says the new Toyota hybrid car launched on Tuesday is a step towards a greener future.

The hybrid electric vehicle is being built at the Japanese multinational's Prospecton plant in Durban.

It will be exported to at least 40 other countries on the continent.

Minister Ebrahim Patel says climate change compels us to move towards environmentally-friendly forms of transport, among other actions.

"If the 20th century becomes known as the centaury of crude oil and nuclear energy, the 21 century may be known as a century of renewable energy and green hydrogen.

"South African is well-positioned to be a player in that market. Our massive platinum group metal resource that's a catalyst in green hydrogen fuel cells as well as our stocks of vanadium using battery storage technologies."

President Cyril Ramaphosa officiated the vehicle's launch and toured the plant.

He's applauded the female-strong production team on the assembly line.

"Walking down the assembly line which is led by a woman who is the general manager and as she was detailing to us what everything is all about in her production line, she kept handing us over to another woman and another woman and all of them so well skilled - a real product of our education system."