- Akio Toyoda admits he feels “very alone” in his support of combustion engines.
- Toyota’s chairman says he wants to build cars he would have in his own collection.
- Six months ago, Toyota unveiled its AMG-rivaling GR GT with a twin-turbo V8.
While many car manufacturers have delayed or canceled the development of certain EVs, often at the cost of billions of dollars, the overriding thought across the industry is that electric cars are the future. It’s no longer a matter of if, but simply when. Toyota, however, will desperately cling to internal combustion engines for as long as possible.
Unlike most of its rivals, Toyota is working on the full gamut of powertrains, including FCEVs and even combustion engines running on hydrogen gas. The company’s commitment to ICEs largely comes from its chairman, Akio Toyoda, arguably one of the last true car enthusiasts leading a major automaker.
The Loneliest Man In The Boardroom
While recently speaking with CarWow, Toyoda was asked what his biggest fear about the future of the car is. His response was short and sharp, showing how much he despises EVs.
Read: Akio Toyoda Teased A Mid-Engine Surprise And Absolutely Meant It Literally
“Everybody is shifting to BEVs, this is the biggest fear for me,” he said. “Three or four years ago, I was the only one to say to the media that I love smell, I love sound and I love engines, and I want to keep the jobs for engine suppliers. But it seems to me that I’m the only one. I feel very alone.”
Toyoda also suggested there are ongoing debates within Toyota itself over the pace of EV adoption, saying that car enthusiasts inside the company continue to push for alternatives to an all-BEV future.
Giving Car People Hope
Ultimately, Toyota knows that moving forward, they will need to make more environmentally-friendly vehicles, including EVs. If things were solely up to Toyoda, there wouldn’t be a market for electric cars.
“The automobile is my toy,” he added. “I want to make the car which I want to keep in my garage. If I have to make only carbon neutral cars, it’s not exciting.”
He also said that focusing solely on profitability would be just as uninspiring, arguing that building cars should be about more than simply producing strong financial results.
The shift to more efficient performance cars is already happening at Toyota. According to recent reports, the next-generation GR Yaris will morph into a powerful hybrid, likely combining the new 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder in development with a small battery pack and electric motor, perhaps delivering up to 394 hp.
Also: The Mid-Engine MR2 Is Going AWD, And Toyota’s Racing It To Prove It Works
For those who despise electrons as much as Toyoda, plenty of options will remain on the table going forward. The most obvious is Toyota’s new GR GT, packing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with no electrification whatsoever, but there are also plans for more attainable sports cars like the next MR2 and a revived Celica.
