Toyota wants to sell 5.5m electrified cars by 2030

Toyota has today announced its ambitious strategy to electrify the world of motoring. By the year 2030, it wants to have sold more than 5.5 million ‘electrified’ cars across the globe.

Yes, five and half million. The reason – as you’ve no doubt guessed – is our dear ol’ blue planet. “Electrified vehicles, which are effective for economical consumption of fuel and promoting usage of alternative fuels, are indispensable in helping to solve current environmental issues,” we’re told.

So, the timeline goes something like this. By 2025, every model in the Toyota and Lexus line-up will feature some form of electric assistance, with straight diesel and petrol models no longer being offered.

In the “early 2020s”, more than ten battery electric models will be sold globally, beginning in China and then heading off to Japan, India, the US and Europe. The fuel-cell line-up will be rolled out both in passenger cars and commercial vehicles at this time too.

Toyota’s hybrid system will be rolled out with greater vigour too. It’s the same setup you see in today’s Prius, and we’re promised “more powerful” versions in due course. Like Toyota’s recent HV Sports Concept, pictured above.

Underpinning all of this is Toyota’s investment in better battery technology, and will work with Panasonic to develop the “best” automotive battery it can then sell on to other carmakers.

“Toyota aims to reduce global average new-vehicle CO2 emissions by 90 per cent from 2010 levels,” the company said. “Today’s announcement is the main pillar of a mid-to-long-term initiative to achieve this challenge.”

Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Volvo… the list grows as more manufacturers join the electric car revolution. Not that we’re luddites or anything, but maybe we'll spend a bit of today listening to a mad V12 at full chat...