A future where we switch to producing only electric vehicles would lead to job losses among those who have worked with motor-related technology, including the many suppliers in the industry. This is the warning from Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda.
Toyota, the world’s top-selling car manufacturer, has been more pragmatic in its approach to electric cars than other manufacturers. This approach has benefited the company as global electric car sales are slow and demand has decreased. At the same time, demand for Toyota’s expanding range of hybrids has increased.
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“There are 5.5 million people involved in the car industry in Japan. Among them are those who have been involved in motor-related work for a long time,” says Akio Toyoda.
If we were to switch to purely electric, all these people’s jobs would be lost, he concludes.
Maximum 30 percent electric
Toyota advocates for a diverse strategy to achieve zero emissions, including electric cars, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and other technologies.
In January, Toyoda said that electric cars would account for a maximum of 30 percent of the global car market, with hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and internal combustion engine vehicles making up the rest.
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