Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota, reiterates once again that the electric car is not the ultimate automotive solution. Confirmation of this consideration, expressed on the occasion of the presentation of the concept of a new Hilux truck in Thailand, seems to sound the alarm in view of upcoming and already announced deadlines such as, for example, that the European Community has planned to stop thermal production from 2035.
The silent majority opposes it
“People involved in the auto industry today are very much a silent majority,” Toyoda explained, “and it is this silent majority that wonders if electric cars are really the only option. This concept is loud. But until the exact answer becomes clear, we should certainly not limit ourselves to just one option.
The ideal is to have many solutions
Toyoda then expressed his belief that the best way forward would be to develop a number of different propulsion technologies, including hybrid and plug-in versions as well as hydrogen-powered cars. The solution that the Toyota CEO himself explained is already partially taking place despite the fact that the world’s largest automakers have now firmly committed themselves to Mobility in the future is fully electric.
Intolerance is growing among builders and the media
The Toyota CEO also acknowledged that his continuous efforts to convey his point of view to stakeholders and representatives of national governments have proven difficult, but they are beginning to receive more support not only from auto industry players, but also among media representatives and that it is therefore possible to draw inconclusive conclusions. Those envisaged with extremely close timings and deadlines.
Most of the profits come from the heat
“Two years ago, I was the only one who made this kind of statement,” Toyoda noted, “while some of the world’s largest automakers have already made radical commitments to electric vehicles, while their production of internal combustion engines generates most of the profits required to finance expansion plans for electric vehicles.” It remains to be seen what the basis for future mobility is for batteries only.
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