Toyota she was undecided whether to bet on electric power supply – the automaker has repeatedly pushed back its electric vehicle goals, delaying production and continuing to focus on hybrids. Now the Corolla manufacturer has revealed that it will be necessary to switch to battery power employment reduction – reports Quartz.
The CEO of Toyota likes gas cars
The company’s president, Akio Toyoda, is yet another person from the automotive industry to warn that the switch to electric power will result in job losses across the sector, Reuters reports. Cuts could come when skilled jobs in “engine-related” jobs are no longer needed. “5.5 million people work in the automotive industry in Japan. Among them are those who have been working on engines for a long time,” Akio Toyoda told reporters. “If electric vehicles simply become the only choice, including for our suppliers, these people’s jobs will be lost,” he said, adding that he likes petrol vehicles.
Toyota’s multi-pronged hybrid strategy
Toyota, the largest in the world car manufacturer in terms of sales, has been more cautious in its approach to electric vehicles than other motor manufacturers. Now, as global electric vehicle sales slow and benefit from demand for its expanding line of hybrids, including in its largest market, the United States.
Instead of going all-in on battery power, Toyota has adopted what it calls a “multi-pronged” strategy. It aims to reduce emissions across its range. This includes expanding its hybrid offering, adding hydrogen-powered cars to its lineup, and introducing new battery-powered models. Toyoda said he believes electric cars will only make up about 30% of the vehicles on the road, with the remainder being cars powered by hydrogen and hybrid cars.
Compared to other global auto powerhouses, the automaker has been slow to add fully electric cars to its lineup. This week it announced it was delaying planned production of electric vehicles in the United States.