Toyota happy with hybrids

Toyota and Suzuki will collaborate on “electrified vehicles”, proving Toyota is happy with hybrids and unlikely to venture yet into battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

As part of the deal, Toyota will supply its Toyota Hybrid System (THS) to Suzuki.

“When it comes to vehicle electrification, which is expected to make further inroads, hybrid technologies are seen as playing a huge role in many markets,” Toyota president Akio Toyoda says.

“Through our new agreement, we look forward to the wider use of hybrid technologies, not only in India and Europe, but around the world. At the same time, we believe that the expansion of our business partnership with Suzuki―from the mutual supply of vehicles and powertrains to the domains of development and production―will help give us the competitive edge we will need to survive this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation.”

While the Toyota Prius hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) are popular in New Zealand, it is Toyota’s petrol-electric Camry making inroads in Australia where the new hybrid RAV4 will be available soon in six models and likely to comprise about 40% of all RAV4 sales.

Toyota’s PHEV Prius Prime is unavailable new in Australia.

It does have the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV), of which 13 are reportedly undergoing trials in Australia.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing vice-president Sean Hanley says FCEV and EV infrastructure and development will take time, so Toyota offers hybrids to help cover the gap for an affordable price.

The Camry hybrid, for instance, comprises more than half of orders – outselling its four-cylinder petrol and V6 options, while the Corolla hybrid makes up about one-in-three Corolla orders.

Further hybrids are expected shortly.

Hanley reckons a PHEV Toyota will eventually become available in Australia, but for now hybrids are a leading option.