Why Toyota's Australian VP Sees Hybrids As Winning Choice Over BEVs Despite Tesla Model Y Popularity

Toyota Motor TM Australia’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, believes that hybrid vehicles are more suitable for Australia compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

What Happened: Hanley explained that producing a single BEV requires the same amount of raw battery materials as 90 standard hybrid vehicles or six plug-in hybrid vehicles, which he referred to as the “1-6-90 rule,” as reported by CarExpert on Tuesday.

According to Hanley, hybrid vehicles, which do not require charging infrastructure, are not only more affordable but also more practical for the majority of consumers.

He highlighted that in countries like Australia, where a significant portion of electricity is generated from non-renewable sources like coal, a mix of hybrids is a more practical choice. In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for 68% of total electricity generation in Australia, as per the report.

"Right now, hybrid-electric vehicles are a better fit than BEVs for most consumers," he reportedly said. "They are more affordable and don't require charging infrastructure. They're cars for the masses, not for the few.”

Despite advocating for hybrids, Hanley clarified that Toyota is not against BEVs.

Why It Matters: Hanley’s comments contrast with the rising popularity of Tesla Inc.’s TSLA Model Y in Australia. Tesla sold 3,811 units of the Model Y in September, ranking it behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.

In April, Toyota announced its plans to introduce 10 new BEVs and target annual sales of 1.5 million EVs by 2026. The Japanese automaker also aims to sell 3.5 million BEVs annually by 2030. However, in 2022, the company sold only 24,466 BEVs worldwide, including EVs from its Lexus brand.

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