For the sixth consecutive year, Toyota is the world’s best-selling automaker. However, EVs played only a marginal role in defending its crown in the battle against the Volkswagen Group. The Japanese giant has been lagging in the electric race, although recent entries like the C-HR, Urban Cruiser, and Highlander show it is intensifying its efforts in an already crowded EV market.
However, Toyota’s chairman famously said in early 2024 that EVs will never exceed 30 percent of global sales. Just a few months ago, Akio Toyoda stated there are still many places around the world where people cannot do without gas-fueled cars because charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped. But while he is a strong believer in combustion engines, the company’s former president and CEO says he now feels in the minority.
