Even as Toyota’s incoming new CEO Koji Sato has promised a pivot towards battery electric vehicles (BEVs), recent comments confirm that Toyota will also remain committed to hydrogen.
Sato, who steps into the role of president and CEO on April 1, said over the weekend at an endurance race at Suzuka Circuit in Japan that Toyota will remain focused on hydrogen even as it steps up its focus on BEVs.
According to Automotive News, Sato explained that “We want to ensure that hydrogen stays a viable option. We need a production and transport supply chain. Unless we see evolution there, we cannot expect a volume increase in the energy’s use.”
Last month in his first public remarks since being named as incoming CEO, Sato promised that Toyota would begin to focus on BEVs, including a new electric model from its Lexus brand by 2026.
“To deliver attractive BEVs to more customers, we must streamline the structure of the car, and—with a BEV-first mindset—we must drastically change the way we do business, from manufacturing to sales and service,” Sato said in February.
Sato reiterated his commitment to BEVs over the weekend, saying that “We are making full-fledged efforts on everything. It is important to remain flexible in order to tailor products and energies to different carbon neutral needs in different markets.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.