With the 2016 Toyota Mirai set to go on sale this October, Toyota has now announced the first eight dealers that will be selling its first production hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.

Four are in Northern California, four in the southern part of the state.

Production of the Mirai will be limited to about 3,000 vehicles for the U.S. through 2017.

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The Northern California dealerships selling the Mirai are San Francisco Toyota, Roseville Toyota, Stevens Creek Toyota, and Toyota of Sunnyvale.

In the Los Angeles Basin and environs, the dealers are Longo Toyota, Toyota Santa Monica, Toyota of Orange and Tustin Toyota.

2016 Toyota Mirai construction at Motomachi plant

2016 Toyota Mirai construction at Motomachi plant

Toyota says it chose the initial dealerships based on both their proximity to hydrogen refueling infrastructure and their previous sales of advanced-technology vehicles, presumably hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles.

Starting this summer, potential Mirai buyers will have to apply to purchase or lease the car online.

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Only "select, eligible customers" will be allocated Mirais, largely based on how close they live and work to hydrogen fueling stations.

Accordingly, as Toyota says in its release, "Drivers are encouraged to make their requests early to save a potential parking spot in transportation history."

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

While the reservation and ordering process will be online, sales and delivery of every Mirai must take place through the authorized Mirai dealer of the customer’s choice.

Toyota appears to be marketing the Mirai as the most advanced and technically sophisticated vehicle it sells.

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Its release calls those potential customers "California trailblazers," echoing an ad last year in which it suggested that drivers who chose not to drive fuel-cell cars would be "roadblocks" to a future world of zero-emission vehicles.

Toyota is one of three carmakers who will sell hydrogen-fueled vehicles in California over the next two years.

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, a compact crossover utility vehicle converted by its Korean maker to hydrogen power, began leasing last summer.

As of December, Hyundai had delivered 54 hydrogen Tucsons.

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Then there's the Toyota Mirai, with first deliveries now announced for October.

Finally, Honda will release a production version of its hydrogen-powered FCV Concept sedan sometime this year, with first sales now expected in 2016.

That car will follow the very low-volume Honda FCX Clarity, of which about 60 were delivered in the U.S. from 2008 through 2014.

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