Toyota, Akio Toyoda: there is a “silent majority” doubtful about the electric

We know Toyota he is reviewing his electric car strategy to be able to compete more in this market. However, this does not mean that the leaders have changed their minds about these cars. The strategy of the Japanese manufacturer will continue to be that of the past and that is also focus on the hybrid and the Fuel Cell. Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s number one, has always been skeptical about the electric car. A skepticism that was reaffirmed once again during a recent visit to Thailand.

Doubts that, according to Toyoda, would be shared by a large part of the automotive industry. The Toyota number one claims to be part of a “silent majorityof the automotive industry it feeds doubts about electric as the only way forward.

Those involved in the automotive industry are largely a silent majority. That silent majority wonders whether electric vehicles are really the right choice as the only option. Such people think it’s just a fad, so they can’t speak loudly.

Toyoda, therefore, reiterates its doubts about the electric as the only way forward and continues to underline that Toyota’s commitment will be to focus on technological neutrality, a concept already expressed many times in the past. Therefore, alongside the electric one, the Japanese manufacturer will continue to focus on hybrid cars that can have an immediate impact on reducing emissions. Obviously, the brand will also continue to invest in hydrogen-based solutions such as the Fuel Cell. And speaking precisely of the Full Cell, the number one of Toyota added that this technology is today gaining more and more appreciation from Governments, the media and other exponents of the automotive industry.

The right way forward is not yet clear, we should not limit ourselves to just one option. Electric cars aren’t the only way to cut carbon emissions. Hybrid cars, marketed in large volumes, can have an immediate impact on decarbonisation and alternatives to EVs, such as hydrogen fuel cell models, are increasingly appreciated by governments, the media and many car manufacturers.

Toyoda’s position is not unique in the automotive landscape. Even the Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavaresfor example, has repeatedly reiterated his doubts about a too rapid transition to electric cars, emphasizing issues such as the charging infrastructure, car prices and the availability of raw materials for batteries.