Toyota has revealed more details regarding its plans to electrify its lineup and it appears the brand will leverage its expertise in hybrid powertrains to boost sales. This announcement comes a few weeks after Toyota showed off its near-production-ready bZ4X Concept, an all-electric crossover that will go into production in 2022. Its luxury division, Lexus, also introduced the LF-Z Concept, which gave us a glimpse of what Lexus’ next-generation electrified lineup will be like.
By 2030, 70 percent of the combined Toyota and Lexus sales mix will make up of electrified vehicles. In the U.S., 15 percent of that 70 percent figure is expected to be battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell models. On a global scale, Toyota is projecting to sell 8 million electrified vehicles with EVs and FCVs making up 2 million of that.
“For over 30 years, Toyota has been innovating and investing in technology to reduce vehicle emissions and achieve carbon reductions,” said Chris Reynolds, chief administrative officer at Toyota Motor North America. “And, although some people believe concentrating resources on one possible solution will achieve the goal more quickly, we believe investing in many different solutions will actually be a faster way to achieve carbon neutrality around the world.”
Toyota’s first electrified models appeared in the late 1990s with the RAV4 EV and the first-generation Prius. The first production FCV appeared in Toyota’s lineup in the form of the Mirai, which is now in its second generation. Toyota’s strategy of offering a broad range of electrified cars helps it appeal to more consumers, especially those who don’t have easy access to an extensive charging infrastructure but want to get a taste of electrified motoring.
