{"id":134172,"date":"2026-03-24T16:51:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotive.einnews.com\/article\/901505729"},"modified":"2026-03-24T16:51:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:51:03","slug":"toyota-goes-all-in-on-evs-after-years-of-making-hybrids-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/24\/toyota-goes-all-in-on-evs-after-years-of-making-hybrids-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Toyota goes all-in on EVs after years of making hybrids. Here&#8217;s why"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Updated March 24, 2026, 9:26 a.m. ET<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__bv\"><\/aside>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__bvd gnt_x__h\"><\/aside>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Reviewing the 2026 Toyota C-HR EV\"><\/aside>\n<ul class=\"gnt_sh\">\n<li class=\"gnt_sh_li\">Toyota is expanding its electric vehicle lineup while other automakers are scaling back.<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_sh_li\">The company plans to offer several battery-powered models by 2027, including a new Highlander SUV.<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_sh_li\">Toyota states its EV expansion is a response to customer demand and part of a multi-path strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At a time when many automakers are cutting back on electric-car production, Toyota appears to be going all in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Environmental groups have criticized the world&#8217;s largest automaker for relying on hybrids instead of full electric vehicles. But the Japanese manufacturer has announced <a href=\"https:\/\/pressroom.toyota.com\/elevated-style-meets-modern-power-in-the-next-generation-2027-toyota-highlander\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">three new electric models<\/a>, and it has also moved to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/cars\/shopping\/2026\/03\/18\/ev-discounts-2026-car-shoppers\/89207863007\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">discount its existing bZ electric&nbsp;crossover&nbsp;SUV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">When Toyota&#8217;s new fully electric Highlander SUV debuts in 2027, Toyota will sell seven battery-powered models from its main brand and Lexus luxury subsidiary. Cox Automotive estimates that only one manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz with six EVs, will come close to Toyota&#8217;s number of battery-powered models if nothing else changes. Two others, BMW and Cadillac, currently sell four.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;Toyota is accelerating when most are slowing down,&#8221; Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox Automotive\u2019s director of Industry Insights, said. &#8220;The bZ is #3 top-selling EV&#8221; this year through the end of February 2026, she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It&#8217;s a far cry from Toyota being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/report-exposes-toyotas-effort-to-fund-climate-deniers\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">derided as a laggard on EVs<\/a> by environmental groups in Washington, DC, as recently as 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at why Toyota is going all-in on EVs while other automakers are pulling the plug.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_cp gnt_em_cp__sp\" aria-label=\"USA TODAY Cars\" data-c-cta=\"EXPLORE EVS\">\n<div class=\"gnt_em_cp_cw\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"gnt_em_cp_cw_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=258&height=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/08\/21\/USAT\/85755424007-usatsi-22479600.jpg?crop=3516,2636,x403,y0&width=516&height=386&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x\" alt><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Why is Toyota now going all-in on EVs?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Toyota says it is following its customers by evolving its product lineup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;We&#8217;re looking at what makes sense for our customer and for our product lineup,&#8221; Julia Rege, Toyota&#8217;s general manager of environmental regulation and research, said during a news briefing on March 18.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;Toyota is very well known for having a multi-path strategy that is a portfolio approach where we are making improvements on our gasoline engines, providing hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, as well as fuel cell electric vehicles,&#8221; Rege continued. &#8220;Quite frankly, the best strategy is to make sure that you&#8217;re selling what your customers want and being prepared for the future of what customers want as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Rick Gezelle, Toyota&#8217;s senior program manager of sustainability and regulatory affairs, said the company is &#8220;not changing much&#8221; but rather &#8220;some of our competitors are chasing that pendulum that&#8217;s swinging back and forth.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;We&#8217;re not pivoting on our plans that we had in place, which were not very popular just a few years,&#8221; he added. &#8220;But you know it&#8217;s a different story now. I think it&#8217;s consistency that is the key.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp\">In case you missed it: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/companies\/2026\/03\/23\/new-800m-investment-announced-for-toyota-kentucky-plant\/89208085007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|spike click:17|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp_a\">Toyota announces $1 billion investment in Kentucky, Indiana plants<\/a><\/aside>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">What do environmental groups say about Toyota&#8217;s EV pivot?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Environmental groups that have held Toyota up for years as a laggard on EVs offered a much less charitable take, saying the Japanese manufacturer is simply bowing to their pressure to urge them to press the gas on electric cars as the world&#8217;s largest carmaker.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;Does this announcement show that Toyota is serious about the EV transition, or is it simply an attempt to create a positive media cycle?&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/after-years-of-pressure-toyota-to-sell-seven-ev-models-in-u-s-by-2027\/\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">asked<\/a> Adam Zuckerman, senior clean vehicles campaigner with Public Citizen\u2019s Climate Program, when Toyota made EV announcements in May 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">&#8220;If Toyota is serious about EVs, it needs to show it by ending its anti-climate lobbying and support for climate deniers,&#8221; Zuckerman continued. &#8220;This is an opportunity for Toyota to take advantage of America&#8217;s growing market for electric vehicles and go from EV laggard to EV leader.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/picture-gallery\/money\/cars\/2025\/05\/19\/2026-toyota-c-hr-ev\/83727753007\/\" data-t-l=\"\u2691g:l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - Toyota\u2019s newest EV is coming, and it's a gas throwback: What to know\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, \/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/05\/19\/PNAS\/83727025007-2026-toyota-chr.jpg?crop=1799,1013,x0,y93&width=1320&height=744&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x\" alt width=\"660\" height=\"372\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">What other EVs are being axed by automakers?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Ford has announced plans to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fromtheroad.ford.com\/us\/en\/articles\/2025\/next-gen-f-150-lightning-extended-range-electric-vehicle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">transition its F-150 Lightning pickup from a fully electric car<\/a>&nbsp;to an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Honda is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/cars\/news\/2026\/03\/13\/honda-evs-united-states-canceled\/89135893007\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">axing three of the electric models<\/a> that it previously planned to build and sell in the United States. The Japanese automaker announced in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hondanews.com\/en-US\/honda-corporate\/releases\/release-b2b85c2cde944ef0d23c0483c5059ac2-honda-announces-losses-associated-with-reassessment-of-automobile-electrification-strategy-revision-to-forecast-for-consolidated-financial-results-and-future-direction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">March 12 statement<\/a>&nbsp;the end of its plans to produce the electric Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 Saloon, and Acura RS.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_x__c gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"><\/aside>\n<aside class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp\">In case you missed it: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/cars\/shopping\/2026\/03\/03\/rivian-offering-electric-pick-up-lease-discounts\/88946233007\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-t-l=\":b|e|spike click:28|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_sp_a\">Rivian discounts electric pickup leases amid Ford&#8217;s F-150 EV retreat<\/a><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lamborghini&nbsp;and Rolls-Royce have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/cars\/news\/2026\/02\/09\/j-cole-lamborghini-urus-suv\/88589414007\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">abandoned plans to develop fully electric cars<\/a> by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Tesla plans to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/cars\/shopping\/evs\/2026\/01\/29\/tesla-discontinues-model-s-model-x\/88411874007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">end production of its Model S luxury electric sedan and Model X luxury electric SUV<\/a>&nbsp;in the spring in favor of building robots, CEO <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/news\/elon-musk\/\" data-autotag=\"17dd4848-e81b-42e8-877d-767f63471f4e\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Elon Musk<\/a> told investors during the company&#8217;s January 2026 earnings call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; vehicle lineup while other <span class=\"match\">automakers<\/span> are scaling back. The company &#8230; ; Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox <span class=\"match\">Automotive<\/span>\u00e2\u0080\u0099s director of Industry &#8230; #39;s largest <span class=\"match\">carmaker<\/span>. &quot;Does this announcement &#8230; in the United States. The Japanese <span class=\"match\">automaker<\/span> announced in a\u00c2\u00a0March 12 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134172\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}