Toyota targets surge in zero emission vehicle sales

Toyota Motor Corporation has outlined a target to sell more than 1 million zero emission vehicles by the end of 2030, under plans announced yesterday (18 December).

The proposals form a part of the Japanese-owned company’s electrified vehicle strategy, which covers hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Toyota’s flagship hydrogen fuel cell car, the Mirai

By 2025, every model in the Toyota and Lexus line-up around the world will be available either as a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option, the company has said. In total, the company aims to sell 5.5 million electric or zero emission cars by the end of the next decade.

This will include accelerating the sale of BEVs with more than 10 BEV models to be available worldwide by the early 2020s, starting in China, before entering other markets―including Japan, India, United States and Europe.

Toyota will also expand its FCEV line-up — which currently includes the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car — with more passenger and commercial models expected to be available in the 2020s.

The company will also expand its range of hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles — which includes the Prius and other models — in the 2020s.

Batteries

To support the strategy, Toyota has announced a partnership with Panasonic for a feasibility study on a joint automotive prismatic battery business, “in order to achieve the best automotive prismatic battery in the industry and to ultimately contribute to the popularisation of Toyota’s and other automakers’ electrified vehicles.”

The Prius will lead Toyota’s lineup of plug-in hybrid vehicles

In a statement, the company said: “Toyota has been a leader in making vehicles while keeping the environment in mind. This is evident through the introduction of the iconic Prius 20 years ago, as well as the launch of the world’s first PHEV, the Prius PHV, in 2012. The second-generation Prius PHV, introduced in 2017, further increased the vehicle’s electric mode cruising range.

“Additionally, in 2014 Toyota launched the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, the Mirai, which is being well-received by customers in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Through these activities, Toyota sales of electrified vehicles have reached more than 11 million units worldwide to date.”