Driven by sustainability, Toyota accelerates its move toward carbon neutrality

At the end of October, Toyota reinforced this vision during its Media Day at the Japan Mobility Show, presenting the Toyota Mobility Concept, an initiative to evolve its core product, the car, to be more useful to everyone. Central to this concept is the Multi-Pathway approach, where options are given, tailored to the specific conditions of each region as the company aims to create a society where people can move freely, happily, and comfortably.

Positioning carbon neutrality as a crucial aspect of their mission is a welcome initiative, especially as Toyota places emphasis on rolling out solutions according to the markets that it is in. Its Multi-Pathway strategy ams to ensure that consumers everywhere have access to sustainable mobility options suited to their local infrastructure and affordability.

At the Mobility Show, Toyota showcased several powertrains (the systems that make a car move), seemingly each tailored for different regions. In South America, the company introduced flexible-fuel vehicles, which run on more than one fuel type, typically ethanol and gasoline. This provides users with a slightly more environmentally friendly option to traditional gas cars, as ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline and can be produced from renewable resources like sugarcane and corn. In Asia, Toyota has focused on compact hybrids that combine electric and traditional engines, while specifically in Japan, it announced a rollout of new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Besides powertrains, Toyota is also expanding its line of affordable flexible-fuel vehicles especially in Southeast Asia, has introduced bio-fuel trials for the Global South, and has committed to hydrogen initiatives with hydrogen refueling station demonstrations in Asia, likely to encourage adoption of fuel cell vehicles.

These efforts align with Toyota’s “30 by 30 million” target: to achieve 30% xEV sales across Southeast Asia by 2030. The company projects that cumulative xEV sales in Asia could exceed 1.5 million units by then, which would be equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 8 million tonnes, or planting 25 million trees.

Beyond personal mobility, Toyota is also exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions in logistics and commercial sectors. Through the Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation, it is collaborating with partners to enhance logistics efficiency and develop new energy solutions.

“At Toyota, we believe that achieving Mobility for All and Carbon Neutrality requires more than one solution of vehicles, energy and data,” said Masahiko Maeda, CEO of the Asia Region of Toyota Motor Corporation. “We believe the future of mobility is ours to create — through collaboration, shared purpose, and collective action. Together, we can build a mobility ecosystem that brings smiles to people across the Asia region.”