原文:
Toyota and affiliate Hino Motors Ltd. will take part in the development of a new model of a road-rail vehicle originally created by railway operator JR Hokkaido, a Hino spokesman said.
The two auto companies are providing technology and materials to strengthen the front part of the "dual mode vehicle" so that it can carry up to 25 people.
The railway firm is already developing several prototypes of road-rail vehicles and has begun test drives.
The operator, which operates railways in the nation's northern island of Hokkaido, has developed the vehicle as part of its effort to utilize railways now out of service due to a sharp decline in passengers in the region.
The vehicle has eight wheels -- four iron wheels for railways and four rubber tyres for roads -- and is powered by a diesel engine. It is said to burn only one fourth of the fuel of conventional diesel-powered cars.
"Our contribution is expected to be another step toward more practical use of the dual mode vehicle," a Hino spokesman said.
The latest vehicle is expected to be completed by mid-June and will be displayed at a welcome event for this year's Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido in July for which climate change is high on the agenda.
本周三，日本丰田公司表示，2011财年（2011年4月至2012年3月）该公司净利润比上一财年大幅下降30.5%，为2835.6亿日元（约合36亿美元）。 请看相关英文报道：Japanese automaker Toyota's group net profit contracted 30.5 precent...