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Toyota president says auto industry 'silent majority' wonders if electric vehicles 'are really OK to have as a single option'
The Blaze ^ | December 21, 2022 | ALEX NITZBERG

Posted on 12/22/2022 6:24:49 AM PST by Red Badger

While electric vehicles may seem to be all the rage in the automotive space, Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda is pumping the brakes on the idea of an all-in approach.

"People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority," Toyoda told reporters during a trip to Thailand, according to the Wall Street Journal. "That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it's the trend so they can't speak out loudly."

"Because the right answer is still unclear, we shouldn't limit ourselves to just one option," he said, according to the outlet — during the past few years, he said, he has attempted to communicate this idea to stakeholders in the automotive space, including government figures, but he indicated that his effort had been tiring at points.

"Is there interest in electric vehicles? Yes. Is it more than 10% to 15% of our customer base? No way," said Ryan Gremore, a dealer based in Illinois who owns a number of brand franchises, according to the outlet.

According to the Journal, Toyoda said that other options like hydrogen-powered vehicles were starting to receive a better reception from government leaders, media figures, and people in the vehicle industry.

The left has been fanatically pushing electric vehicles as it peddles climate change alarmism.

But electric vehicles remain impractical in many cases — for instance, they require significant time to recharge, which could be an inconvenience when recharging in the middle of a long trip. They are also less affordable to purchase than traditional gas-powered vehicles.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: hybrids; toyota; twofaced; youaskedforit
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To: Red Badger

Most of the public wants nothing to do with these contraptions.


21 posted on 12/22/2022 6:57:16 AM PST by allendale
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To: the OlLine Rebel

But this is the hypocrisy:

You do NOT make major business decisions without knowing your market.

It’s a metaphor, practically an open admission that the auto market is being coerced into making bad choices.

I believe the reference is to the market, not insiders.


22 posted on 12/22/2022 6:57:22 AM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: butlerweave

I wonder, in the future, how many people will freeze to death, stranded on the highways in blizzards like we are seeing this week, because their EV ran out of juice?............


23 posted on 12/22/2022 6:57:38 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

The electrical grid is already under a strain whenever there is a heat wave or cold snap. Having everyone driving an electric vehicle will only make things worse.


24 posted on 12/22/2022 6:58:23 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> --- )
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To: Red Badger
This top-down push for EVs was never about emissions or the environment. It's about controlling the mobility of the proletariat. Our masters still remember the Dust Bowl and the Okies and are determined never to let anything like that happen again. Gotta keep the serfs tied to their serfdom. How will people be able to escape collapsing socialist hellholes like California if their EV needs to stop and be recharged three times before they get to the border?

Enjoy your new Electro-Trabant, comrade!

25 posted on 12/22/2022 7:02:31 AM PST by Flatus I. Maximus (If Black Lives Matter, how do you explain Chicago?)
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To: logi_cal869

He is quoted, “people involved in the auto industry”.

As himself. And dealers. And engineers. People who actually make and sell and fix the cars.

That is the point. They know the truth but are afraid to speak up. As are most of us about anything pushed by the commie brigade.


26 posted on 12/22/2022 7:02:54 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMV)
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To: Red Badger

Do you really have to wonder? I think the answer is quite obvious.


27 posted on 12/22/2022 7:02:58 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Red Badger

Ford is what too? Chasing an all-electric future at the behest of the geenies? Yep Exactly.


28 posted on 12/22/2022 7:03:34 AM PST by Flying Circus
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To: Red Badger

It doesn’t matter what the facts are, ie “electric cars only will ruin this nation”, it only matters what the left declare to be the “New Truth” ie “electric cars Wil, save the earth”

There are several major blatant lies circulating throughout the world right now, ie 100’s of biological sees, math is racist, man is causing the world to implode, we can’t define a woman, etc, which the wo4ld is gobbling up as “gospel truth”- i5s as thouhg God has sent a “strong delusion” upon th3 wicked of this world


29 posted on 12/22/2022 7:06:34 AM PST by Bob434 (question)
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To: Red Badger

I love EVs, but anyone putting all their eggs in that basket is going to regret it and fail. The goal should be 20% - 25%. I would never give up my other ICE cars. Even though I really enjoy mine, if I had to have only one car it would be an ICE vehicle.

As it stands now, EV is just another choice in my stable.


30 posted on 12/22/2022 7:06:47 AM PST by Codeflier (My voting days are over. Let it burn...give the people what they want good and hard. )
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To: Codeflier

EV’s are fine for town cars, shopping, kids to soccer, going to church movies, etc.

Those short trips are also the worst gas mileage.

So they have a use.

Long trips is not one of them................


31 posted on 12/22/2022 7:10:35 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: lgjhn23

He has not fallen down prostate before Big Green and Big Gov begging their indulgence and forgiveness! That is amazing and I never thought I’d see the day. All of the lemming CEOs at other car companies are begging for the crocodile to eat them last.


32 posted on 12/22/2022 7:13:43 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (If you're not part of the solution, you're just scumming up the bottom of the beaker!0)
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To: Flying Circus

They are not going whole-hog all EV, like GM and the others are. They will still make IC engine cars, just not as many....................


33 posted on 12/22/2022 7:18:27 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Hazwaste

“They’re going to clean up over the next few years.”

No joke. My next vehicle is going to be a Toyota because (1) reputation for great quality and (2) not taking the suicide pills of the left. God-willing, we will all be around in 2030, 2035 to see the total failure come to fruition of today’s leftist arrogant, neo-Marxist, bs commitments/goals to zero internal combustion engines, only EV, zero-emissions, carbon-neutrality, alternative energy, etc.


34 posted on 12/22/2022 7:21:52 AM PST by Susquehanna Patriot ( )
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To: Red Badger

That is why Toyota has come out with plug in Hybrids.

The Rav4 model makes a lot of sense to me IMHO.

It has a small EV battery capable of powering the vehicle for short trips less than 40 miles round trip.
It has front and rear electric motors to give you great acceleration and torque.
It also has a 4 cylinder engine if you want to drive it on long trips.


35 posted on 12/22/2022 7:31:21 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: Red Badger

This is the model I was referring to:

https://www.toyota.com/rav4prime/2022/features/mpg_other_price/4544/4550

Rav4 Prime AWD
302 combined HP

I wish they would build a Tacoma 4WD version


36 posted on 12/22/2022 7:37:39 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: Red Badger

Toyoda said that other options like hydrogen-powered vehicles were starting to receive a better reception from government leaders.

Biden and his stooge crew missed the boat again who knew.


37 posted on 12/22/2022 7:39:34 AM PST by Vaduz (LAWYERS )
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To: glorgau

Understating the obvious. The truth is no one but the woke a-holes want the EV as only option.


38 posted on 12/22/2022 7:43:14 AM PST by iamgalt
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To: Red Badger

There’s no trend. The left is eliminating gas-powered cars and the petroleum industry. One day it will be a crime to drive a gas-powered car.

The gov gives subsidies to EVs. Those subsidies will stop when there are substantially more EVs than gas cars.


39 posted on 12/22/2022 7:46:13 AM PST by I want the USA back (News media not worth camel spit. My pronouns: Who, What, I Don't Know.)
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To: Red Badger

Electric cars are NOT a general purpose solution, and there is no way in the short term they will or can be.

Charging times are TOO long, and existing energy grid/infrastructure can’t remotely handle everyone using electric vehicles.

Yes they are, for most people an acceptable solution for 80-90% of their driving, which is for MOST people commuting, however they are absolutely impractical vs combustion for any other use.

Given most people want their vehicle to be a complete solution for all their needs, not 80-90% of their needs, electric is not an option.


40 posted on 12/22/2022 7:48:05 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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