The Expert Podcast

Toyota was one of the first companies to really mass market electric or hybrid vehicles with the Toyota Prius. The Prius, a very famous first case mass-market car from the late 90s and early 2000s, was a groundbreaker for getting hybrid or EVs out into the marketplace. However, Toyota is now one of the most high-profile companies pushing back against the mass conversion to electric vehicles. They argue that the push to eliminate all gasoline vehicles might be a bit premature.

Some states are advocating for a complete ban on gasoline vehicle sales by 2030 or 2035, just seven years away. Toyota is saying, "Wait a minute, that's a little too extreme." Instead of banning gasoline vehicles outright and rushing to adopt EVs, they propose a more gradual transition. Toyota suggests relying on hybrids and allowing the market to migrate naturally to electric vehicles, rather than jumping the gun and mandating the elimination of gasoline vehicles. They base this stance on scientific reports and surveys indicating that such a rapid shift may not be beneficial.

The Toyota executive staff has faced criticism for this position. Environmental activists argue that it is the wrong message for a major car company to convey. This raises important questions: Should we be switching to EVs very quickly? Should there be mandates prohibiting gasoline vehicles after a certain number of years? Is the charging network ready to handle an all-electric vehicle market? Does the manufacturing process have the capacity and access to raw materials necessary for large-scale EV production?

Toyota's stance also raises the issue of whether they are right to put the brakes on the rush to electric vehicles or if they risk becoming outliers in the industry. Could they be left behind as other manufacturers fully embrace EVs? This position is ironic, coming from the makers of the Prius—one of the first large-scale electric vehicles. It’s surprising that Toyota, a pioneer in this field, is now advocating for a more measured approach.