Toyota to lift fast-charger rollout at Japan dealers

Toyota is accelerating plans to expand electric-vehicle charging at its Japanese dealerships, aiming to have 500 high-speed chargers operating by the end of the fiscal year to March 2026, up from 390 fast and about 3,800 standard chargers currently installed nationwide, according to local reports.

The push is more modest than earlier ambitions to fit fast chargers across Toyota’s roughly 5,000 domestic outlets, but the company says it is prioritising locations with proven demand.

“We do not focus on achieving a set number of chargers, but rather, install them based on needs and usage,” a Toyota spokesperson said.

The company added it “is not focused on installing a particular number of chargers. Instead, we will install them where they are needed”.

Japan’s EV market remains small compared with hybrids, a segment in which domestic makers—including Toyota—are dominant. The slower-than-planned charger rollout underlines the challenge of scaling infrastructure while consumer adoption is still building.

The government wants 30,000 high-speed chargers in place by 2030, positioned at easily accessed sites such as convenience stores, fuel stations and shopping centres.

By then, the trade ministry projects roughly half of Japan’s approximately 20,000 car dealerships will have fast chargers.

Rivals have moved quickly. Nissan says about 90% of its dealers already host high-speed units, while Mitsubishi reports coverage at about 94% of outlets.

Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, has pledged a broader transition to battery models but has also signalled flexibility on sales targets as the market evolves. Chief executive Koji Sato has previously said the company may need to revisit its goal of selling 1.5 million EVs annually by 2026.