http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&siteid=yh
oo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7BD87F4F9A%2D70F1%2D418E%2D95A8%2D51E842B89294%7D

or

http://tinyurl.com/9vrc9

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Federal regulators on Wednesday
officially opened an investigation into the red-hot Toyota Prius,
responding to complaints alleging the cars' hybrid engine stalled in
traffic.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it received 33
reports of the gas-electric hybrid shutting down without warning
typically at speed between 35 mph and 65 mph. The investigation covers
about 75,000 vehicles.

Some of the complaints indicate that the vehicle was operated in
electric mode for awhile after the gas engine stalled, NHTSA said. In
at least half the cases, the car wouldn't restart and had to be towed.

Published reports detailing the potential problem first surfaced
earlier this month, but NHTSA, while looking into the complaints, had
yet to formalize an investigation until now.

There have been no reported cases of injuries.

The Toyota Prius currently dominates the competition, making up 64% of
the overall hybrid market in 2004. Prius sales tripled in April to
11,345, moving towards the company's target of 300,000 a year.

Toyota previously pegged its long range annual forecast at 1 million
hybrid vehicles.

Last month, Toyota announced one of its biggest ever recalls with
790,000 trucks and sport utility vehicles being called back to shops
due to problems with the front suspension. See full story.

U.S.-listed shares of Toyota Motor (TM: news, chart, profile) added 1%
to $72.44 in early trading.