Toyota Motor North America has weighed in on California’s ambitious recent electric vehicle (EV) mandates, calling the goals “inconceivable” given the slow growth of EVs in America. Currently, only 9% of U.S. automobile buyers select EVs and in lots of states, the adoption rates of EVs are even lower.
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Nonetheless, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has set an ambitious mandate that 35% of all light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) or plug-in hybrids by 2026. The last word goal is that by 2035, every recent automobile sold within the state must be zero-emission.
As cited by CNBC, Toyota Chief Operating Officer Jack Hollis questioned the feasibility of such a timeline, saying, “I actually have not seen a forecast by anyone – government or private – that claims that number is achievable.”
Toyota fears the mandate could force automakers to disregard what customers need, especially in markets where electric vehicles are less popular. Hollis suggested that pushing automakers to satisfy these requirements without adequate market support could limit consumer selections.
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California has traditionally taken a strict stance on emissions, setting standards more stringent than those required nationally under a federal waiver. This has led to a split market: some states follow California’s rules, while others follow national regulations.
Toyota, nevertheless, calls for a single national standard, arguing that a uniform rule for all states would help automakers more easily produce cars. “We might all the time desire a 50-state rule because that way we will treat all customers, all dealers, equally,” Hollis explained.
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The emissions standards debate has sparked significant discussion throughout the industry. Hollis said California’s mandate could “limit consumer alternative” by reducing the variety of models available. Some politicians, including Democrat Elissa Slotkin, have echoed similar points, saying, “What you drive is your call, nobody else’s.”