Toyota’s CEO Akio Toyoda is planning to transform its older gas-powered cars into sustainable, electric vehicles or EVs.
The automobile company has been receiving backlash for its lack of efforts in producing electric-powered vehicles, especially with the growing concern about climate change in recent years.
While Toyota has created a hybrid andhydrogen-powered cars, companies like Tesla have fully committed to EVs, paving the way for its rise in the market.
However, Toyoda sees a different plan in mind.
In the Tokyo Auto Salon held last January 13, he announced that the company would use a "conversion" strategy to transform older units into more sustainable vehicles by replacing certain parts.
According to its CEO, it will take a long time for all Toyota cars to become zero emission; this is why “conversion” is the more feasible choice. “I don’t want to leave any car lover behind,” he added.
As the company commits to its “conversion” strategy efforts, it still aims to sell about 3.5 million EVs a year by 2030, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal last December 2021.
"[It] will be difficult but is something we must do," Toyoda said.
Toyota has been leading the car industry with its hybrid vehicles, with its success most noted by its Prius model utilizing both an electric motor and a gasoline engine.
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