Toyota, Australia’s best-selling car brand, has made a bold move towards electrification by announcing a hybrid-only drivetrain option on nine of its top models. This decision reflects the growing demand for more sustainable and efficient vehicles.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have steadily gained popularity in Australia, and Toyota has been a driving force behind this trend. With the recent discontinuation of petrol-only options on several models, Toyota’s hybrid sales now account for an impressive 46.6% of its total sales in the country. This percentage has jumped significantly from 33.5% just last year.
The following Toyota models are now exclusively available with HEV technology:
These models include the highly popular RAV4 medium SUV, which dominates its category in Australia. Notably, Toyota’s performance-oriented GR Yaris and GR Corolla models, as well as its rugged 4x4s (HiLux and LandCruiser), still rely on internal combustion engines.
Toyota Australia’s Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, attributed this shift to the growing customer demand for more fuel-efficient options. Toyota’s HEV sales have surged, with over 46,000 units sold in the first five months of 2023, double the volume for the same period last year.
Hanley highlighted that Toyota’s commitment to hybrid technology over the past two decades has positioned the brand well in the face of evolving market trends. The company has sold over 430,000 HEVs in Australia since introducing the original Prius in 2001.
Toyota’s embrace of hybrids aligns with its multi-pathway approach to decarbonization. While the company has been a leader in hybrid technology, it is also exploring other powertrain options such as battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as part of its long-term sustainability goals.