Weird: Toyota’s Going All In On Hybrids Instead Of EVs

It’s almost like Toyota knows their consumers and what they want, and will cater to them

Toyota goes all-in on hybrids in U.S. as Trump risks loom over EVs

Toyota Motor will make all major models in the U.S. available as hybrids by 2030, doubling down on its strength in the vehicles as uncertainty shadows the market for electrics.

At a Thursday test-drive event at Toyota’s North American headquarters — the first in years — half of the 26 models featured were hybrids. Just two were electric vehicles.

The plan is to offer hybrid options for all key models by 2030, said Kevin Butt, regional environmental sustainability director at Toyota Motor North America.

Many of Toyota’s key models are already available as hybrids. The popular Camry sedan went hybrid-only when it was updated this spring. The Crown Signia sport utility vehicle launching this year will be exclusively sold as a hybrid.

Toyota and Honda, both being very efficient and well built vehicles, are trying to minimize the necessity to offer tons of EVs, because customers are not clamoring for them. Heck, a lot of customers do not want standard hybrids. But, really, if you drive a regular Camry or Accord then the hybrid versions you will barely notice the difference in acceleration. Same with the CRVs and RAV4s. And Toyota/Lexus dominates the US market when it comes to hybrids. They would actually like if Trump ands the EPA fuel economy requirements that force manufacturers to make EVs which customers do not want, and are not really profitable.

Heck, they would lose out on profit from maintenance. Doesn’t mean they won’t make some EVs, but, they won’t have to because of Government fiat.

Check out Hyundai’s new $23K Casper EV spotted out in the wild [Video]

As automakers race to launch affordable electric cars, Hyundai is ahead of the pack. Hyundai’s new Casper EV, starting at under $23,000 (31.5 million won) in Korea, was spotted driving out in public. With incentives, Hyundai says its new Casper EV can be bought for as little as $14,500 (20 million won). Check out Hyundai’s new low-cost EV in the video below.

Hyundai opened Casper EV pre-orders (called the Inster EV in Europe) last month, starting at $22,800 (31.5 million won).

Including government incentives and rebates, Hyundai expects the price of its base “Inspiration” model to fall to as low as $14,500 (20 million won).

“To truly popularize electric vehicles, we have prepared the Casper Electric with unrivaled product competitiveness and reasonable price,” a Hyundai spokesperson said. They added Hyundai’s new Casper EV will be “the most attractive choice” for many EV buyers.

It’s also tiny. It’s like buying a sub-subcompact SUV (a Toyota CHR and Honda HRV are examples of subcompact SUVs. RAV4s/CRVs are compact SUVs)

#Exclusive first look at the Hyundai Inster / Casper Electric! Pocket sized EV – and India is expected to get a slightly upsized version of this! Like what you see? Likely Urban Car contender @WorldCarAwards?
SVP #Hyundai #Inster #CasperElectric #EV #GCOTY @Hyundai_Global pic.twitter.com/06UDGiIecU

— Siddharth Vinayak Patankar (@sidpatankar) June 27, 2024

This is the kind of tiny vehicle, very narrow, that you see on the small roads in Japan and South Korea. That some in Europe get for their short trips around town. It might be nice as a 2nd car for around town, but, Americans do not like tiny cars on the road. Especially when government officials who do not use any EV are forcing this on them.

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