Toyota's president says he feels isolated in the industry by defending traditional engines and bets on multiple technologies for the future
While most of the automotive industry accelerates the transition to electric vehicles, Toyota maintains its strategy of investing in different technologies. In addition to battery electrics, the automaker continues to develop models powered by hydrogen, fuel cells and combustion engines, a vision strongly supported by its president, Akio Toyoda.
In an interview with the CarWow channel, Toyoda said that his biggest fear about the future of the sector is precisely the mass migration to electric vehicles. According to him, a few years ago he was one of the few voices in the industry to publicly defend the continuity of combustion engines, citing not only the passion for traditional automobiles, but also the preservation of jobs linked to the production chain of these engines.
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The executive said he feels increasingly isolated in this debate, as most automakers have started to focus their efforts on electrification. Still, he pointed out that within Toyota itself there are professionals and enthusiasts who continue to advocate for alternatives to an all-electric future.
Despite criticism of accelerated electrification, Toyoda acknowledges that the industry will need to make progress in reducing emissions and developing more sustainable vehicles. However, he argues that the automobile should continue to arouse emotion in consumers and not be treated only as a tool to achieve environmental or financial goals.
The brand moves in the same direction as Toyoda’s opinions, as the next generation of the Toyota GR Yaris is expected to adopt a high-performance hybrid set, possibly combining a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with electric assistance to reach around 394 hp. At the same time, the manufacturer continues to invest in sports cars with conventional engines, such as the future Toyota GR GT, in addition to the long-awaited returns of the Toyota MR2 and Toyota Celica.
Toyoda’s position reinforces Toyota’s commitment to a gradual transition, based on multiple technologies, rather than an exclusive adoption of electric vehicles.
