And they should be. Toyota spent so long fighting against EVs instead of embracing them that they could become irrelevant in less than 20 years.
China is heavily subsidizing their EV production. US and Japanese car makers are sitting on their hands and bitching to their government to keep the Chinese vehicles out.
Toyota never fought against EVs. They were part of a consortium of companies (including literally every other manufacturer selling cars in the US) that fought against the mandates banning them from selling anything but EVs.
Toyota was first to electrify their vehicles with the Prius all the way back in the 90s and have hybrid options for nearly every vehicle in their fleet now, along with heavily investing in solid state battery research and hydrogen powered vehicles, so I don’t understand why people make stupid claims like saying they’re in bed with the oil industry.
Toyota is the type of company that methodically designs their vehicles using proven technology rather than jumping head first into a market that’s rapidly developing and changing. It seems they’re waiting to see what works and what doesn’t to manufacture their first real EV (not the joint venture compliance car that is the BZ4X or whatever it’s called).
Meanwhile here in France, I see Teslas everywhere, lots of Zoes, some e208, and Toyota still has nothing to show except for the Pro Ace.
Toyota who got famous for being agile and lean and making just in time manufacturing and continuously improving every aspect of the business.
They then basically run a real world experiment and start fucking around with electric (well hybrid) cars. The results of which are positive, they sell very well, get a lot of publicity and good reviews.
And what do they do. Ignore their entire philosophy, all their data, everything the company is built and and decide “the way we have always done it is best”.
Ohno Taiichi must be rolling in his grave.
Toyota fucked themselves.
But if capitalism shows us anything its that if the big companies don’t adapt and change quickly some small start up is going to blow them out of the water and make them cease to exist.
Ugh? This whole thing is the exact opposite of capitalism working.
How?
One company doesn’t sell a product consumers want to buy so their sales go down.
One company does sell a product consumers want to buy so their sales go up.
How’s that’s not capitalism?
I’d still buy a Toyota/Lexus over a similarly priced BYD just because of the reliability track record of Toyota
Similarly priced? Nah mate
You gotta pay x2 for a Toyota with half of BYD features
Have fun Burning Your Driveway and getting no warranty. Dont worry, it runs out after 20,000 miles, just ask the company.
What features would those be and how is it that Chinese manufacturers can sell them at 1/4th the price of anyone else?
Government subsidy/tax breaks
Rhymes with smunderpaid twerkers and flavory.
