Japan emphasised hybrids in policy document after lawmaker cited lobbying from Toyota head

Japan's auto industry, particularly Toyota Motor Corp has come under pressure from environmentalists

Japan changed a key policy document to show support for hybrids was on par with battery-electric vehicles after a lawmaker cited Toyota's head saying automakers couldn't back a government that rejected technology popularised by the Prius, according to notes from a ruling party meeting, Qazet.az reports citing Reuters.

The wording changes, which included adding a reference to "so-called electric-powered vehicles", appear to put fossil-fuel burning hybrids on equal footing with zero-emission battery vehicles, even though environmentalists say there is a vast difference.

Japan's auto industry, particularly Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), has come under pressure from environmentalists and green investors who say it has been slow to embrace battery-electric vehicles and lobbied governments to undermine a transition to them. 

Akira Amari, a former industry minister and a veteran member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), requested the change to the government's annual economic policy roadmap at a June 3 meeting, saying he had spoken with Akio Toyoda a day earlier, according to the notes and audio reviewed by Reuters.