Three in every ten cars sold by Toyota in a decade’s time will be hybrid, a senior executive told the Financial Times on Wednesday.
As Toyota took the wraps off its latest hybrid offerings at the Toyko Motor Show, the carmaker vowed to build petrol-electric versions of all its vehicles by 2020, in anticipation of a booming market for hybrids.
In an interview with TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, UK press relations manager, for Toyota, Michael Valvo said that hybrid is ‘core technology for the future at Toyota’. On the back of the success of the original hybrid, the Prius, Toyota has for the first time put a number to the expected sales of hybrid cars to justify its corporate focus on the technology.
Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice-president in charge of product development, disclosed the estimate as the Tokyo Motor Show opened yesterday to the world’s media.
Despite showcasing a new electric model along side the new hybrid model, Toyota said they did not see electric cars as being as feasible as hybrid.
According to the FT.com, Mr Uchiyamada said: “We don’t think electric vehicles will spread that fast.”
Nonetheless Toyota is showcasing the FT-EV II, a compact electric vehicle designed for short distance travel similar to the iQ, yet even smaller. Designed for urban mobility, Toyota say it will still have room for four seats on board. With drive-by-wire technology, the vehicle functions to be controlled using a joystick, including the accelerator, brakes and steering. By removing the throttle and brake pedals, Toyota freed up legroom at the front, to allow for room in the back. To ensure easy access in tight spots, the FT-EV II has electric sliding doors on both sides. Top speed is above 60mph and a fully charged battery will give a range of more than 50 miles.
Featuring alongside this electric offering however, is Toyota’s other big unveiling at the show, the Sai hybrid, a larger, more upmarket version of the Prius. The Japanese carmaker intends to begin retailing it in its homeland from December. Revealed along side it is the sporty LF-Ch hybrid five-door under its Lexus brand.
