Toyota chief executive Akio Toyoda has warned that millions of automotive jobs could be at risk if the Japanese government pursues an ambitious push for carbon neutrality.
While speaking in his role as chairman of Japan’s automaker association, Toyoda explained that a radical shift to electric vehicles could cripple the company’s manufacturing industry. This comes as Japan pushes to become carbon neutral by 2050.
“Japan is an export-reliant country,” Toyoda said. “Thus, carbon neutrality is tantamount to an issue of employment for Japan. Some politicians are saying that we need to turn all cars into EVs or that the manufacturing industry is an outmoded one but I don’t think that is the case. To protect the jobs and lives of Japanese people, I think it is necessary to bring our future in line with our efforts so far.”
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According to Auto News, Toyoda noted that Japan produces about 10 million vehicles a year, roughly 50 per cent of which are exported. Forecasts predict the country could be producing 8 million vehicles annually with combustion engines, including hybrids and PHEVs, even in 2030 and made the argument that legislating them out of existence would cripple the job market.
“This means that production of more than 8 million units would be lost, and the automotive industry could risk losing the majority of 5.5 million jobs,” Toyoda argued. “If they say internal combustion engines are the enemy, we would not be able to produce almost any vehicles.”
Toyoda remains steadfast in his belief that hybrid vehicles are still an important bridge technology towards EVs and are particularly important in markets without a sizeable charging infrastructure.
“In achieving carbon neutrality, the enemy is carbon dioxide, not internal combustion,” Toyoda said. “To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it is necessary to have practical and sustainable initiatives that are in line with different situations in various countries and regions.”
