Akio Toyoda Defends Hybrids, Questions EV-Only Future: “Carbon Is the Enemy, Not the Engine”
Toyota’s chairman doubles down on hybrids, citing real-world emissions and market readiness
Toyota stays the hybrid course
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has reaffirmed the automaker’s hybrid-first strategy, suggesting that full battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are not yet the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions globally. In an interview with Automotive News, Toyoda emphasized that the company’s decisions are driven by environmental impact, not industry trends.
“When the term carbon neutrality became popular, we said as a company, the enemy is carbon,” Toyoda stated. “We have to focus on what we can do immediately.”
Why hybrids still matter
Toyota has sold nearly 27 million hybrid vehicles worldwide, which Toyoda says have achieved an emissions reduction comparable to placing 9 million BEVs on the road.
- However, in countries like Japan, where the electric grid still relies heavily on thermal power, producing and charging BEVs could increase carbon output.
- In contrast, hybrids offer immediate CO₂ savings without requiring a complete overhaul of the energy infrastructure.
“If we were to have made 9 million BEVs in Japan, it would have actually increased the carbon emissions,” Toyoda noted.
Electric sports car? Only when it’s fun and affordable
While not entirely ruling out an electric sports car, Toyoda—also known as Toyota’s “master driver”—emphasized that any such vehicle must meet both performance and emotional standards.
“My definition of a sports car is something with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine,” he said.
“Once Toyota has the capacity to offer affordable and exciting BEVs, maybe I’ll introduce a BEV sports car.”
Electric racing? Not yet exciting enough
Toyoda also expressed skepticism toward current EV racing formats, especially in endurance settings:
“You won’t be able to go around the circuit for more than an hour,” he said. “It’s not going to be a race of cars—it’s a race of charging time or battery exchange.”
For Toyoda, the thrill of racing—especially endurance racing—still belongs to combustion and hybrid technology, where performance isn’t dictated by recharge intervals.
