Toyota President suggests majority support keeping gas vehicles

Toyota President Akio Toyoda told reporters this week that many in the automotive industry had reservations about switching their production lines to focus entirely on electric vehicles, even amid a push for greater production of such models.

"People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority," Toyoda said, per Fox Business. "That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it's the trend so they can't speak out loudly." 

Speaking in Thailand, the auto-making executive said the company was on track to produce 3.5 million electric vehicles every year through 2030, but still cautioned against solely devoting production to electric cars.

"[W]e shouldn't limit ourselves to just one option," he continued.

Despite a considerable push from some automakers to completely switch to electric cars, such vehicles still account for only 6.5% of the overall new-car market, the outlet noted.

Some of Toyota's rival car makers, including General Motors and Honda, have already set dates for when all of their cars will be all-electric.

Some states, meanwhile, have passed mandates to bar the sale of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, including California, which has set a deadline of 2035 for 100% electric vehicle sales.