Toyota management have refuted reports the car marker could quit Britain due to stringent new low carbon requirements following a report it was unhappy with the Government’s plans.
The Sunday Telegraph suggested the Japanese car maker could end manufacturing in the UK if hybrid models are banned from 2030 as part of net zero plans.
The paper reported the Government has set a 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars, but will allow the greenest hybrids to be sold until 2035.
Toyota’s Burnaston plant – which employs 2,500 people – started producing its new hybrid Corolla in 2019.
A hybrid engine combines a conventional combustion engine (usually petrol-powered) with an electric motor.
Toyota source said words taken out of context from a year-old report were the source of the story.
A spokesman said: “Our response to the 2021 Government CO2 consultation covered many details given the important issues involved.
“We do not feel that it can be accurately represented by taking small parts of our response without acknowledgment to the wider context in which they were delivered.
“We will continue to approach any discussion with the UK Government based on constructive and respectful dialogue.
“Toyota shares the UK Government’s ambition to make progress towards zero emissions. We have a proven track record for CO2 emissions reduction and have never missed a European regional CO2 target – making Toyota a leader amongst major automotive companies.
“We have consistently said we continue to see a role for many different technologies in the transition to zero emission based on the principle of ‘mobility for all’ and ‘carbon as the enemy’ – including for low emission full hybrids and plug-in hybrid technology.
“We have a clear roadmap for achieving zero emission vehicles. For UK, we will be ready to sell 100% of our vehicles with zero emissions by 2035 which is the Government’s target.
“We recognise that the Government would like to make further progress from 2030 towards the wider uptake of zero emission vehicles. This will be moving ahead of regional (European) CO2 commitments – which is a significant challenge for many automotive companies given the integrated nature of the European regional supply chain. But we are looking at ways to help facilitate progress.
“Crucially, the greater adoption of zero emission vehicles will also be reliant on the pace of development for the key enabling conditions – such as availability of clean energy, complimentary charging infrastructure and availability or raw materials. Progress will also be required in these areas.
“Toyota is focused on achieving a long term and sustainable future including for our UK plants, as we move towards our ultimate goal of securing carbon neutral operations. Maintaining competitiveness is essential.
“We have invested over £2.75 billion in our UK operations to date, including most recently £240m to produce the current Corolla models. The majority of our UK vehicle production is made up of full hybrids (up to 90 per cent) responding to high levels of customer demand in the UK and the European region.
“We are also aiming for our UK production plants to be Toyota’s first global manufacturing facilities to become carbon neutral – as early as 2024 for our engine plant located in Deeside, North Wales.”
