Toyota Australia will no longer sell the petrol-only variants of its cars where hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) are available.
The announcement means petrol-only variants will be discontinued on nine models including Corolla and Camry sedans, and the Corolla Cross, RAV4 and Kluger SUVs, with an expectation that more than half of Toyota sales next year to be HEVs or battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
Sean Hanley, Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations at Toyota Australia, said consumer demand in Australia for hybrid models was rising consistently, including in 2020 when its overall hybrid share near-doubled to more than one-quarter of total sales – and it has continued to grow ever since.
“Our HEV share reached a record 33.5 per cent last year and has jumped to 46.6 per cent in the first five months of this year, including 48.9 per cent in May.
“So far this year, our total HEV sales have more than doubled to 46,821 vehicles compared with the same period last year with all models continuing to attract strong demand.”
Hanley said Toyota is confident in the future of HEV as the dominant choice for most passenger cars and SUVs, which led to decisions that would impact on sales of petrol-only models.
“Toyota has been implementing our HEV strategy over an extended period and remains committed to innovating across a diverse array of powertrains, which is the essence of our multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation.
“This approach was central to global decisions, made in the earliest planning stages, that the 2024 new-generation C-HR and Camry models would be offered exclusively with hybrid powertrains.”
Ongoing developments, including the upcoming mandated new-vehicle efficiency standard, confirmed the foresight of Toyota’s strategy.
“Toyota has more than two decades of experience in batteries, motors and other electrification technologies with recognised benefits for fuel efficiency and emissions.
“We have also made significant local investments to educate consumers and promote broad acceptance and demand for hybrid-electric vehicles.
“As a result, we are seeing more Australian motorists than ever embracing the practicality and smooth performance of this technology, as well as the fuel-saving benefits and lower CO2 tailpipe emissions compared with equivalent petrol-only cars,” explained Hanley.
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