Toyota has announced it wants to add solar panels to its Prius hybrid vehicle as soon as early next year.
According to the Nikkei economic daily, the rooftop panels would be able to power the car’s air conditioning on high-end models.
If Toyota goes ahead with the plans it will be the first carmaker to produce a mainstream car with solar panels.
The Japanese auto giant has so far refused to officially comment on the reports.
Toyota launched the Prius in 1997 as the world’s first mass production petrol-electric hybrid.