automotive industry

Toyota says large parts of world not ready for zero-emission cars

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Toyota says large parts of world not ready for zero-emission cars

TOYOTA. Visitors check a Toyota C-HR electric vehicle during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China, April 19, 2021.

Aly Song/Reuters

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, is not among the signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans

Large parts of the world are not ready for zero-emission vehicles, which is why Toyota Motor Corporation did not sign a pledge this week to phase out fossil-fuel cars by 2040, the world’s largest automaker said on Thursday, November 11.

Six major carmakers, including General Motors, Ford, Sweden’s Volvo Cars, and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, signed the Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans, as did a number of countries including India.

But Toyota and No. 2 global automaker Volkswagen AG, as well as crucial car markets the United States, China, and Germany did not.

A spokesperson for Toyota told Reuters that where the energy and charging infrastructure, economics, and customer readiness exist, “we are ready to accelerate and help support with appropriate zero-emission vehicles.”

“However, in many areas of the world such as Asia, Africa, Middle East…an environment suitable for promoting full zero-emission transport has not yet been established,” the spokesperson said.

“We think it will take more time to make progress…thus, it is difficult for us to commit to the joint statement at this stage.”

Must Read

EXPLAINER: Why are BMW and Daimler being sued over climate change?

EXPLAINER: Why are BMW and Daimler being sued over climate change?

According to a study published by the Munich Mobility Show in April, there are huge global disparities in electric vehicle ownership.

Sales are soaring in the European Union, China, and the United States.

But cumulative electric car registrations through 2020 in South America, with a population of more than 420 million, were below 18,000.

And registrations in Africa, home to 1.2 billion people, were exclusively in South Africa and totaled just 1,509 cars through 2020.

Volkswagen also said the tempo of electric vehicle adoption would “vary from region to region” and chief executive Herbert Diess dismissed the zero-emission pledge at a conference on Wednesday, November 10.

“It could still make sense to use synthetic fuel cars in Latin America in 2035,” Diess said. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!