Environmentalists used the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship to criticize Toyota Motor Corp.’s lack of urgency in shifting to an all-electric line-up.
Additionally a new report placed the Japanese automaker on a list dominated by the world’s largest oil and gas companies as the “most negative and influential companies on climate policy” of 2022.
“As the largest global auto manufacturer, Toyota has the ability to shift the worldwide market on EVs,” said East Peterson-Trujillo, clean vehicles campaigner with Public Citizen’s Climate Program.
“Toyota is stuck in the past, betting the climate crisis, public health, and economic benefits won’t push consumers toward cleaner, cheaper EVs. Toyota must leave its boring, polluting vehicles in the rearview mirror.”
Toyota’s top executive, Akio Toyoda, has long maintained moving to an all battery-electric line-up isn’t best way the way to reduce carbon emissions around the world. He’s recommended a mix of EVs, hybrids and other zero-emissions vehicles, like those powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are a better way to go.
Banner hits Toyota for “boring cars”
Public Citizen had a plane circle the NASCAR race in Phoenix where a Toyota team was contending for the championship, towing a banner with the slogan, “Want exciting? Drive electric. Want boring? Drive Toyota,” which also represented a dig at the company’s aforementioned chairman, Akio Toyoda, who is fond of saying there are now boring Toyotas.
In addition, a billboard truck circled the Phoenix Raceway displaying a video calling on Toyota to fix its long-term strategy on EVs.
Last week, Public Citizen, along with 16 other environmental organizations, called on Toyoda to commit the company to producing only zero-emissions vehicles. The letter urges the company to shift swiftly to EVs or risk obsolescence.
Toyota reportedly is considering a major revision of its EV strategy in the face of rising competitive and political pressure in key markets around the world. Toyota executives also have defended the company’s current strategy, saying battery-electric vehicles are still relatively expensive, which limits consumer demand.
In addition, the charging network and the electric grids is not robust enough to support a rapid shift to EVs.
Toyota also has long cited its fuel economy ratings and support for hybrid technology as part of record in caring for the environment and taking steps to slow climate change even though it has not promoted electric vehicles like other companies have.
Environmentalists demand faster action on EVs
Public Citizen and its allies, however, are calling on Toyota to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids by 2030 in the U.S. and Europe and 2035 globally.
The environmentalists also want Toyota to align the company’s global advocacy and lobbying efforts with the goal of phasing out internal combustion engines and supporting policies that promote a 100% renewable energy economy-wide and to ensure 100% renewable energy use throughout its supply chains globally by 2035.
In a letter to CEO Toyoda, the environmental groups asked Toyota to shift swiftly to EVs or risk obsolescence.
“Your refusal to lead a rapid transition to electric vehicles and your advocacy against ZEV policies not only contradicts what consumers want, but also harms them,” the letter said. “Your competitors have made much more progress and plan to go fully electric at a much quicker pace: General Motors, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford have committed to work towards 100% zero-emission new car and van sales in leading markets by 2035.”
InfluenceMap, which since 2015 has monitored corporate climate lobbying in response to growing demand from investors and other stakeholders, reported Toyota remains the most negative and influential company from the Transport sector.
On a list dominated by the world’s largest oil and gas companies, Toyota ranked 10th on the “most negative and influential companies on climate policy” of 2022.
The InfluenceMap report has become a mainstream investor tool in assessing and engaging with companies and has been cited in over 2,000 media articles globally. It feeds into numerous NGO campaigns and helps the corporate sector engage more positively on climate policy.
A NASCAR even may not be the most effective place to criticize a company for its environmental record. What’s more, I believe Toyota is in business to make money and their product decisions are going to be based on that imperative.