TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda has expressed his disapproval of the Japanese government's proposal to phase out gasoline cars as part of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. During an online interview with reporters on Dec. 17, Toyoda, who also chairs the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, expressed concern over the government's proposal to end sales of new gasoline cars by the end of the 2030s, warning that "the car industry's business model will collapse."
Toyoda emphasized his view that since thermal power plants account for a large proportion of electricity generation in Japan, a move to electric vehicles alone will not lead to a reduction in carbon emissions, and indicated that he opposes a drastic shift to electric cars.
Citing the example of France, which relies heavily on nuclear power and has less thermal power generation compared to Japan, the Toyota president stated, "Achieving zero emissions is difficult without a large reform in the national government's policies on energy." He added, "At the current rate, we would be unable to make cars in Japan."
Toyoda noted that a large portion of carbon emissions is produced during the manufacturing of electric vehicles as well as in generating power for the vehicles' usage, and said emphatically, "Do politicians understand this when they insist on getting rid of gasoline vehicles?" He said lightweight "kei" vehicles, the vast majority of which are powered by gasoline, were "an absolute lifeline in rural regions."
"Although there is a tendency to think that getting rid of gasoline cars will help us get closer to carbon neutrality, I'd like the public to support the industry in maintaining one of Japan's strong points, so that the achievements made so far will not go to waste," said Toyoda, suggesting he cannot approve of a hasty move to phase out gasoline cars.
Meanwhile, Eiji Hashimoto, president of Nippon Steel Corp. and chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, stated during a news conference on Dec. 17 that achieving the national government's target of zero emissions by 2050, would require 10 to 20 years of research and development alone. He expressed his intention to ask the national government for assistance, stating that "continuing such efforts as an individual firm is unfeasible."
The cooperation of the car and steel industries is indispensable for the national government to realize its target. It is expected that the prime minister's goal of zero emissions will face complications, as the heads of Toyota and Nippon Steel -- top companies within their respective industries which also have a history of leading Keidanren, Japan's most influential business lobby -- have expressed their concerns over the policy.
(Japanese original by Daichi Matsuoka, Business News Department)