Toyota 48V: hybrid heavyweights in a changing world

Toyota's global mandate to lower overall emissions via a multi-technology approach sees the venerable Hilux and popular Fortuner packages receive their timely respective doses of hybridisation. By CAR.

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Announced by the former president and CEO and current chairperson of Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, in late 2021, this proud Japanese brand’s aim of carbon neutrality throughout the life cycle of its vehicles by 2050 will be achieved via a “multi-pathway approach” rather than a line-in-the-sand decision to focus on all-electric mobility. Having since honed these plans to include a forecast of selling 1,5 million EVs by 2026 (representing an estimated 14% of total sales), the remaining volume will be complemented by products featuring either electrified internal combustion engines (mild hybrids), plug-in hybrids, or hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) powertrains.

Toyota believes it has a responsibility to ensure that every customer has the opportunity to choose the lowest-possible CO2 emissions product on the journey to carbon neutrality, irrespective of market, segment and budget. This is why the Toyota electric car strategy focuses on a variety of powertrains, as opposed to just one solution.

“Customers, not regulations or politics, should decide on what path to rely on in terms of the common goal of lowering CO2 ,” stated Toyoda.