Toyota firms up 2030 ZLEV commitment

Toyota Australia has announced zero and low emissions (ZLEV) electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will comprise 30 per cent of its sales by the end of 2030, up from less than one per cent today.

Toyota Australia currently sells two EVs – the bZ4X battery electric (BEV) SUV and the experimental Mirai fuel cell (FCEV) sedan. Its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will arrive as part of the new RAV4 SUV line-up in the third quarter of 2026.

The expansion of Toyota’s local ZLEV offerings were announced at last week’s 2026 Toyota HiLux launch by sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley.

“This is informed by the trends we are currently seeing in the market, and it is 100 per cent in line with our multi-pathway approach,” Hanley said.

Hybrids, already close to 50 per cent of Toyota sales, are not included in the ZLEV target.

The move signals more BEVs and FCEVs, but the key takeaway is the addition of PHEV powertrains to Toyota’s popular 4x4 line-up.

Toyota needs to add more emissions-efficient powertrains to its top-selling 4x4 and commercials as the NVES CO2 reduction scheme bites hard into diesel beyond 2027.

Hanley expressed confidence that some buyers of Toyota’s 4x4 and commercials would embrace shift to electric.

“I think plug-in hybrid in particular is a really accelerating, credible technology, and I think it's exactly right for Australian consumers,” he said.

Hanley stressed – as he has previously – diesel will remain for heavy-duty users, but its dominance will diminish.

“I still see a role for a diesel for someone who's doing heavy commercial use,” he said.

“It won't go away, but it certainly won't be as dominant as it is today.”

Toyota confirmed the roll-out of their new BEVs which include the next-gen HiLux, C-HR EV, and bZ4X Touring.

A BEV LandCruiser is expected to launch globally as soon as 2026 to coincide with the nameplate’s 75th anniversary.

The sole PHEV confirmed so far is the new RAV4, while the next FCEV will be a HiLux derivative arriving in 2028.

“FCEV will be a smaller part, a very smaller part, but in that 2030 to 2035 horizon, I think you'll start to see that FCEV climb quite dramatically,” Hanley said.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au