TOKYO: Nearly 40 percent of people in Japan who own or plan to own cars want to buy gas-electric hybrid vehicles once the country bans sales of gasoline-only new vehicles in the mid-2030s, a Jiji Press survey conducted in January showed.

The poll showed that 39.4 percent of these respondents favored hybrid vehicles, while 29.6 pct chose fully electric vehicles and 3.7 percent selected fuel-cell vehicles.

It showed that 9.7 percent said they will continue to use gasoline or diesel vehicles purchased before the ban goes into effect and that 6.2 percent said they will not own cars.

Asked about what they expect from next-generation vehicles, with multiple answers allowed, 49.1 percent of all respondents cited safety during crashes, 46.2 percent safe self-driving and 45.2 percent low costs.

The interview-based survey was conducted with 1,953 people aged 18 or older across the country, except for Toyama, Fukui and Miyazaki prefectures. Valid responses came from 62.0 percent.