(Paris) Toyota announced Thursday that it was “ready” to sell 100% of “zero emission” vehicles (electric or hydrogen) from 2035 in Western Europe.
The world’s largest manufacturer had not joined the commitment of the COP26 in Glasgow: around thirty countries and a few car manufacturers (Ford, Mercedes, General Motors, Volvo) committed to “work” to ensure that all new cars sold be zero emissions by 2040, and by 2035 in major markets.
Toyota announced Thursday that it will stand “ready to reduce CO emissions by 100%2 of all its new vehicles by 2035 in Western Europe ”, in line with the European Commission’s proposals to ban combustion engines that same year.
“Zero emission” sales will gain momentum “subject to the establishment, by then, of sufficient infrastructure for electric recharging and hydrogen refueling, as well as the necessary increase in renewable energy capacities”, said Matt Harrison, president of the manufacturer in Europe.
PHOTO FREDERIC J. BROWN, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
The electric prototype Toyota Rhombus Concept on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show, California, November 17, 2021. The vehicle would target consumers born after 1990, according to a statement from Toyota.
A pioneer of hybrids with its Prius model, and still the world leader in this segment with two million hybrids sold in 2020, the Japanese manufacturer has long slowed down on 100% electric cars.
“Very dependent” on this expertise in the hybrid, Toyota received the worst rating (tied with Stellantis) in a recent Greenpeace report assessing the environmental efforts and commitments of the world’s top ten car manufacturers.
While most manufacturers have already expanded their electric range, the group hopes to start marketing the bZ4X, its first 100% electric SUV, from mid-2022 worldwide.
In September, he announced that he would invest the equivalent of more than 11 billion euros in the development of batteries by 2030 for electric and hybrid vehicles. It also plans to launch 15 100% electric models by 2025.
PHOTO MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Electric models shown by Toyota at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California on November 17, 2021.
However, the commercial success is there, driven by hybrids: the group intends to improve its European sales record in 2021 with a market share of 6.3%, or more than one million vehicles. For 2022, the group plans to sell around 1.3 million vehicles, or 6.5% of the market. With a slew of new models by 2025, its premium Lexus brand aims to almost double its sales to 130,000 units.
Toyota Scientific Director Gill Pratt said on Thursday that in order to minimize net carbon emissions globally, “we will need to use our different types of electrified vehicles – self-charging hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric and fuel cell ”.
The group, which is one of the few to bet on hydrogen (the fuel cell) for private vehicles, will launch in early 2022 in Brussels the production of a second generation of fuel cell modules, more compact and lighter. .