Akio Toyoda, the chairman of the Toyota company and the grandson of the company founder, has been a long-time critic of the move toward all-electric vehicles globally. His argument: the EV transition should be slowed down. Toyoda claims that the rapid transition to EVs may cost millions of jobs and may not be as environmentally friendly as people think it is. His most disputable statement? That 27 million hybrids Toyota has sold since 1997 have produced the same carbon footprint as only nine million EVs, or that an EV is effectively “as dirty” as three hybrids when manufacturing emissions are included.
The production of EVs, particularly the batteries, emits more CO? than gas-powered vehicles; however, studies indicate that EVs have a lower emission throughout their lifetime. Nevertheless, the gradual transition of Toyota to electric vehicles has caused some criticism, and the company has been labeled as outdated. However, the statistics say otherwise: in 2024, Toyota was the fifth consecutive year the largest selling automaker in the world.
Its EVs are not at the level of competitors, but Toyota leads in hybrids and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Even its smallest car, the Aygo X, now has a hybrid version with the lowest CO? emissions of any non-plug-in available. Even after its hydrogen-powered Mirai flopped, Toyota is doubling down on hydrogen technology, teaming up with BMW to introduce a production hydrogen car by 2028.
In the meantime, Toyota is also scaling up its EV lineup, such as the bZ series and electric sedans under the Lexus brand, such as the ES and RZ. By 2027, more EVs will be added in the U.S. However, the fun is not abandoned; CEO Koji Sato has promised to make cars that are more driver-oriented, and this will include a new Supra, Celica, and potentially an MR2.
Is it a hybrid, EV, hydrogen, or high-performance gas? Toyota is not placing its bets on a single future but is, in fact, creating them all. And that strategy is working, at least so far.
