We are currently in Tokyo to cover the Japan Mobility Show 2023 (traditionally called the Tokyo Motor Show, now renamed to cover mobility as a whole, not just cars), which will start tomorrow. Toyota Motor Asia Pacific’s (TMAP) pre-show briefing here has provided a few interesting insights into the company’s targets and beliefs for the near future. Surprise surprise, it’s not all about EVs.
TMAP president and Asia deputy CEO Hao Quoc Tien revealed that Toyota estimates by 2030, between 20% and 30% of its sales in Asia will be EVs. The numbers will vary from country to country – he singled out Singapore to have very high EV adoption, Thailand around 25%, while others may be lower, mainly due to the lack of charging infrastructure.
But beyond that, Hao reiterates Toyota’s long-standing position that EV isn’t the only way forward, as the ultimate target continues to be achieving carbon neutrality, not an EV-only future. “Let’s say we do get that 30% (of EV sales in Asia), if we don’t (also) improve the other 70%, our carbon neutrality goal will be missed,” he added.
“It’s not all about EVs – nothing wrong about EVs, I think the technology is really good – but there are real limitations (for now). Maybe in another 10 or 20 years, the EV percentage will be higher, and I think it should be, but from now until then, what are we going to do? That’s the key question,” he elaborated.
Toyota is currently working hard to reduce carbon emissions across various technologies for the other 70% of non-EV sales, with what it calls a multi-pathway approach to sustainability. The company firmly believes that each technology has its role in helping to reduce carbon emissions.
One of Toyota’s key pillars moving forward is to offer clean mobility for all, while leaving no one behind. Casting a wider net is crucial to achieving the goal, especially in markets that are less ready/welcoming of full electric vehicles. If it goes full-force towards an EV-only immediate future, markets like ours will lose out (or be left behind, in Toyota’s own words).
The multiple technologies in question here are: internal combustion engine (ICE, or your regular fuel-burning petrol or diesel motor), bio-fuel compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV or EV) and lastly, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). Yes, each one has a role to play still.
Every little bit helps, Toyota says, and looking at all possible solutions instead of focusing solely on EVs is the better way forward. Do you agree with this take, or do you think it should be EVs or nothing? Comment below.
The post Toyota forecasts 30% EV sales in Asia by 2030, but target remains carbon neutrality, not EV-only push appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
