Toyota campaigns to slow down move to EVs in Australia

Toyota claims the “silent majority” of Australians are siding with it as it campaigns to slow the local move to zero-emissions motoring.

While groups such as Greenpeace Australia and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) want only battery-electric cars to be available from 2035, Toyota is calling for a slower transition that allows CO2-emitting internal combustion engines (ICE) to continue on sale beyond that date.

Speaking exclusively to carsales, Toyota Australia sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley said a 2035 ICE ban would backfire and result in older vehicles with higher emissions staying on local roads longer.

He also hit back at critics Greenpeace Australia and the EVC who say Toyota is an environmental and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) laggard.

In the most recent of 10 media releases issued in just over 12 months that are critical of Toyota, Greenpeace Australia said: “Toyota continues to put profit ahead of the health of Australians, and our precious environment.”

But Hanley dismissed the criticism.

“Whatever EV Council and Greenpeace give us a credit for, we are far more advanced in this space than people want to give us credit for,” he said.

“If we simply go to BEV we are going to count a lot of the market out, firstly; they are going to keep a lot of their vehicles for a long time,” Hanley said.

“Therefore this notion you are going to get to carbon-neutral quick by doing it that way is actually incorrect.”

This is not the first time Hanley has vented Toyota’s frustration about this issue in public.

However, the clock is now ticking down to the release of Australia’s first mandatory fuel consumption and emission standards and the market leader has a lot to lose if decisions go against it.

“All Toyota wants to do is bring some balance to this debate,” Hanley said.

“I believe there is a silent majority of Australians who drive their cars for leisure, who tow caravans, who use their cars for work, who load their cars for work, use them for agriculture and mining, use them for trades.

“I believe those people need to have a voice and the voice of reason says they need to have practical solutions and a BEV for them is some time away.

“Therefore, diverse technologies as we transition to that carbon-neutral world is exactly the right strategy.

“That is all we are saying. We are not saying we are anti-BEV, we are not trying to prevent government and/or anything with government and BEV introduction.

‘We are simply putting the market truth out there.”

Despite the criticisms levelled at it, Hanley said Toyota’s own research showed support for its position on a slower transition to zero-emission vehicles via a spread of powertrain technologies.

“I believe the tide of sentiment is actually changing now, because people are now saying, ‘You know what, maybe this is correct. Maybe we do need more time.’

“But on that time I am not suggesting we don’t do anything. I am suggesting we bring in hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel-cell electric vehicles, BEVs.

“I am suggesting we continue to invest in synthetic fuel technology, continue to invest in hydrogen ICE conversion.

“These are all very real possibilities.”

The consultation period for the national fuel standard closed at the end of May. The federal government is expected to have an exposure draft of legislation in the public arena by the end of the year.

The objective of the standard is the increased sale of zero-emissions electric vehicles in Australia and would ultimately lead to a ban on the sale of vehicles with CO2-emitting powertrains.

What is primarily up for debate is how quickly that transition happens. Environmental and lobby groups, some think tanks and some car companies favour the 2035 ban and a commitment to battery electric vehicles.

Researchers argue the 2035 ICE ban is critical if Australia and the world is to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

But much of the Australian auto industry led by its lobby group, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), backs a longer and slower transition that is “technology agnostic”.

The fundamental argument is that BEVs won’t be capable of delivering affordable transport solutions, especially when it comes to the utes and SUVs popular in Australia.

Toyota has been singled out as a target by the likes of Greenpeace because globally it is seen as a slow mover on EVs. Locally it dominates new-vehicle sales with a phalanx of diesel SUVs and utes that emit significant CO2.

It is yet to launch an EV in Australia. Its first will be the Toyota bZ4X that goes on-sale late in 2023.

It has committed to launching three EVs by the end of 2026, but it may upscale that in line with increased investment in the technology by its parent.

Toyota is also seen as the power behind the throne at the FCAI, dictating policy because it is the association’s largest funder (members fund the FCAI on the basis of their sales).

The “technology agnostic” argument put forward by the FCAI is seen by critics as serving Toyota, which also dominates petrol-electric hybrid sales in Australia.

Greenpeace, which has a section of its website devoted to Toyota “stalling on Climate Action”, highlighted the FCAI link in its most recent media release.

“Greenpeace Australia Pacific understands that Toyota is a powerful player within the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI),” the release stated.

“The Sydney Morning Herald reported earlier this week that the FCAI has been driving a co-ordinated lobbying campaign among policymakers to limit emissions cuts from vehicles and to downplay the role of electric vehicles.”

Hanley rejected the accusations that it dictated FCAI policy.

“The idea that we totally influence FCAI is quite incorrect,” he said.

“I know it is being said and it is being broadcast out there. We are one vote on a 10-person board and we respect and accept the broader collective and align with the developed positions,” he said.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au