Toyota has revealed its plans to produce 30 battery-electric models by 2030.
In a media briefing, company President Akio Toyoda revealed that the Japanese giant has ambitious plans for EVs, despite its recent and continued insistence that hydrogen fuel and fuel cells are better long-term alternatives.
By 2030, Toyota is aiming to have sold 3.5 million BEVs, with Lexus becoming a 100% electric brand in Europe, North America, and China by 2030.
Similarly, Toyota wants to have a 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles by 2035 in Western Europe.
These plans will be supported by the expansion of the bZ family of vehicles, due to launch in Europe, the US, Japan, and China next year.
The media briefing, which lasted almost two hours, saw Toyoda and other company execs talk explain the changes that the company was planning to make in the coming years.
Toyoda explained that, as we live in a “diversified world” and at a time where it is “hard to predict” the future, “one-size-fits-all” solutions are unable to make everyone happy.
Instead, the company believes that it needs to separate its electrified vehicles into two categories: carbon-reducing vehicles and carbon-neutral vehicles.
“One category is that of carbon-reducing vehicles,” explained Toyoda. “If the energy that powers vehicles is not clean, the use of an electrified vehicle, no matter what type it might be, would not result in zero CO2 emissions.”
“The other category is that of carbon-neutral vehicles,” he continued. “Vehicles in this category run on clean energy and achieve zero CO2 emissions in the whole process of their use.”
Whilst it is reassuring to see Toyota making efforts to electrify its fleet, it is noticeable that, compared to many European and American manufactures, Toyota’s ambitions for electrification are significantly more muted.
Similarly, while the company’s executives waxed lyrical about its plans for electrification in Europe, North America, and China, there was precious little mention of plans to electrify its Japanese lineup.
The bZ4x will be coming to Japan (we learnt that a couple of months ago) and an upcoming new mid-size SUV in the bZ family will have “a comfortable interior designed with Europe and Japan in mind.” However, that was the only mention of models coming to the company’s homeland in the almost two-hour presentation.
Of course, Toyota will still be investing heavily in battery technology – large carmakers can’t afford not to.
“Going forward, we will increase our new investment in batteries from the 1.5 trillion yen announced in September to 2 trillion yen, aiming to realize even more-advanced, high-quality, and affordable batteries,” said Toyoda.
The company also said it would aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 “by continuously making steady improvements toward reducing energy use and by expanding the use of innovative production engineering technology.”
Toyota’s hesitance to make big commitments shone through again as Toyoda explained:
“Energy plays a critical role in achieving carbon neutrality. At present, the energy situation varies greatly from region to region.
“That is exactly why Toyota is committed to providing a diversified range of carbon-neutral options to meet whatever might be the needs and situations in every country and region.
“It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose.”
