Toyota's Executive Vice President Terashi discusses future plans: "By 2050, the focus won't lie with BEVs or FCEVs, but solely on Toyota."

Toyota's Ambitious Climate Goals and Lunar Project

In a recent interview, Toyota's Executive Vice President, Shigeki Terashi, outlined the automaker's plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore the moon.

Toyota aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, in compliance with the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, the company has set progressive targets for the sale of environmentally friendly vehicles. In 2018, 4.5% of all cars sold by Toyota had to be fuel efficient vehicles, with a maximum of 2.5% being plug-in hybrids. This requirement increased to 7.0% in 2019, 9.5% in 2020, 12.0% in 2021, 14.5% in 2022, 17.0% in 2023, 19.5% in 2024, and 22.0% in 2025. The maximum percentage of plug-in hybrids remains at 6.0% in 2025.

Terashi also stated that Toyota plans to expand its FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) technology. The company aims to develop more affordable and efficient hydrogen fuel cell systems, increase infrastructure partnerships, and introduce new hydrogen-powered models to meet North America's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations in the coming years.

In the near future, Toyota may consider liquid hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.

In an unusual move for the automotive industry, Toyota is also embarking on a project to explore the moon. Terashi expressed the company's ambition to combine "the virtual with reality" and bring earth technology to the moon.

Toyota currently holds only 11-12 percent of the world market share. The interview, serialized over five episodes with the cooperation of "THE PAGE" and motor journalist Naoto Ikeda, was published on March 16 and 17 on "THE PAGE", a news site operated by Yahoo's subsidiary Wordleaf Corporation.

The regulations on environmentally friendly vehicles for North American-based makers have become more stringent since 2018. Additionally, regulations on automobile exhaust gas in California require makers to sell a certain percentage of vehicles that meet the state's Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations.

If society needs to reduce CO emissions to one-fifth of current levels, internal combustion engines cannot survive. Therefore, Toyota's commitment to reducing emissions and exploring alternative fuel sources is a significant step towards a more sustainable future.

It is clear that Toyota is taking a proactive approach to climate change and the future of the automotive industry. The company's ambitious goals and innovative projects demonstrate a commitment to creating a more sustainable world.