Key highlights
- Toyota boss Akio Toyoda says EVs are more harmful
- Claims that hybrids are a better solution
- The company has sold 27 million hybrid cars to date
Japanese car giant Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, has recently given a statement that has attracted the world’s attention. Read below what he said about the EVs and hybrids.
Also read: Tata Motors to launch 7 new models by 2030 in aggressive product push
Toyota claims hybrids are better than EVs
During a recent media interaction, Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota, stated that EVs are more “dirtier” than hybrid cars. He further added that producing and selling EVs in certain regions, like Japan, creates more harm to the environment.
He told the media that the company has sold more than 27 million hybrid cars worldwide to date. Additionally, achieving carbon neutrality remains the top priority for the carmaker.
Speaking on the EVs, he stated that producing and selling BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicle) can lead to more harm in certain regions. For example, Japan, a country that produces electricity by using its natural resources and fossil fuels, will end up generating more pollution than if it used hybrid cars.
He also said that by selling 27 million hybrid cars, the company has produced an equal amount of carbon footprint as 9 million BEVs. Now this is a big claim for the company, as the brand is focused on hybrids, the EV expansion seems not to be happening anytime soon.
Moreover, Toyoda said that the sudden shift to EVs is not just endangering the environment, but it will also create economic risks like job losses, which will further impact nations that are dependent on auto manufacturing, like Japan itself.
Our verdict
Toyota’s focus on hybrid cars has been clear for years. The brand is now focused on expanding its offerings with plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell cars. However, EVs are still looking out of the equation for the carmaker.