Toyota has hinted that it may soon cease production of gas powered vehicles in the U.S., reports Bloomberg.
The news comes from Gill Pratt, Toyota’s chief scientist, who shared with a Bloomberg reporter that the company is currently in discussions of when to make the move.
“In the US, there is a decision being made now—and I’m not a part of it—as to whether to stop making pure ICE for the US market,” said Pratt. “Just the fact that we’re thinking of that means that, OK, it must be close.”
Toyota's electrified vehicle sales are on track to surpass that of ICE vehicles. While electrified vehicles made up less than 20% of the company's September sales two years ago, that number had shot up to 48% last month.
Currently, the automaker is planning to open a $13.9 billion battery factory in North Carolina that will supply cells for EVs and hybrids.
A decrease in spot prices for battery raw materials has led Pratt to feel optimistic about fully electric and hybrid vehicle production, which has been Toyota’s biggest concern with regard to EV input costs.
Additionally, Pratt is encouraged by the potential of an excess in renewable energy that may allow for the production of low-carbon liquid fuels.
“What I’m trying to emphasize in my talks now is please, please, please, we all want the same thing, but let’s stop the wishful thinking,” added Pratt. “Let’s think about what really is going to occur, what human nature is like, what politics is like, the capital that folks don’t have to change their cars, and let’s find a way that accepts the reality of all those things, and let’s change what we actually can change.”
