If the automobile industry represents a significant part of total greenhouse gas emissions (private vehicles were responsible for 22% of CO2 emissions in France in 2019), its impact can be reduced, in particular thanks to the electrification of the park.
But not all manufacturers are so supportive. While some, like Tesla, have every interest in seeing the advent of the electric car, others, on the contrary, hope to delay the death of internal combustion engines.
InfluenceMap therefore looked at the actions of fifteen of the largest automotive groups in seven key regions (Australia, the EU, Japan, India, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States ). All of them, with the exception of Tesla, have already actively fought against at least one policy for the development of electric vehicles.
Japanese brands are doing everything to delay the advent of electric cars… and nothing to slow global warming
InfluenceMap assigned a score to the analyzed manufacturers, reflecting their actions affecting the environment. The worst students are Japanese. “Toyota is the lowest-scoring company in this analysis as it leads opposition to climate regulations that promote battery electric vehicles in several regions, including the US, Australia and the UK”explain the authors of the report.
Despite its lead on hybrid cars, the world’s leading automobile group is known for its disenchantment with electric cars, both through its public communications and its lobbying. “For example, in public comments submitted in 2023, Toyota advocated weakening and/or delaying greenhouse gas emissions standards in the United States and Australia, zero-emission vehicle mandates in Canada and the United Kingdom, and to weaken the policy of phasing out the internal combustion engine in the United Kingdom”detail the authors of the report.
For its actions going against climate issues, the Toyota group was awarded a score of D by InfluenceMap, also awarded to Mazda and Suzuki, as well as the Indian Tata Motors.
Furthermore, according to InfluenceMap forecasts, only Tesla, Mercedes and BMW should produce enough electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen vehicles in 2030 to allow the industry to comply with the Paris agreements, which plan to limit the global warming at 1.5°C.
The groups expected to produce the fewest electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen cars in 2030 are also Japanese. The share of these energies in Suzuki’s sales could thus rise to only 10% in 2030, while they should already represent 53% of the overall energy mix by this time (44% of electric cars and 9% of hybrids rechargeable).