Lexus To Spearhead Toyota's Push For Next-Generation EVs, Says Incoming CEO

Toyota Motor Corp's incoming CEO, Koji Sato, said today that the company's Lexus luxury brand will spearhead a shift towards next-generation battery electric vehicles. Sato, who will take over as the next CEO of the world's largest automaker on April 1, made the remarks during his first news conference since being introduced as the successor to outgoing CEO Akio Toyoda last month. The automaker has been chastised for being slow to embrace battery electric vehicles in favour of hybrids and hydrogen technology. It has long been stated that different markets require different technologies in order to achieve zero emissions.

Toyota, which popularised hybrid technology with the Prius, has stated that hybrids make more sense for many drivers, particularly in markets where battery infrastructure is not yet ready. It has also advocated for hydrogen-powered vehicles as the future. Toyota, according to Sato, will accelerate its battery-electric offerings by focusing on the Lexus. He was quick to point out, however, that this was not a significant shift in strategy and that Toyota would continue to pursue a variety of technologies in its pursuit of carbon-neutral vehicles.

Sato stated that, while the company's belief that it needed to provide consumers with multiple options had not changed, it would accelerate its battery-electric offerings. Sato, a trained engineer, began his career at Toyota in 1992 and rose through the ranks to become chief engineer of Lexus International in 2016.

While he oversaw the development of Lexus' first fully electric model, he has previously stated that other options for vehicle powering remain open.