Toyota has no plans to launch electric cars in China, a new report finds. Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker announced that it would delay the launch of its next-generation plug-in hybrids due to safety concern with its lithium-ion batteries. Toyota is currently testing plug-in hybrid technology in France.
“In France, 80 percent of electricity is produced by nuclear stations so if electric cars replace fossil fuel cars then you have a clear reduction in the emission of CO2,” said Tatehito Ueda, a managing officer at Toyota Motor Corp. “But in China they make electricity by burning coal, so China is not the place for electric cars.”
Instead, Toyota will focus on reducing running resistance and improving powertrains in China for increased economy.
