After increasing pressure to switch to electricity, Toyota aims for a boom in electric car sales

Toyota - the world's largest automaker - has finally joined the electric car fray, saying it hopes that by the end of the decade battery-powered cars will account for a third of its sales, and that nearly all of its luxury brand Lexus sales will be electric cars. .

It is noteworthy that the Japanese automaker pioneered hybrid cars that use electric motors and gasoline engines together, but it was slower than its competitors - such as "Volkswagen", "General Motors" and "Ford Motor"). Only in the sale of cars that operate with batteries. It is known that General Motors aims to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles in favor of electricity by 2035.

"The Lexus brand will only sell electric cars by 2030 in the US, Europe and China"

Toyota said on Tuesday that one of its factories in Japan is preparing to start offering electric SUVs that were developed with "Subaru" and called "bZ4X", and here "BZ" means (Beyond Zero). .

The head of "Tokyo Motor Corp", Akio Toyoda - at an event in Tokyo - said that the car will be sold early next year.

The company aims to produce 3.5 million electric cars by 2030, or about a third of Toyota's sales before the pandemic. Standing amid rows of prototypes that included a two-seater sports car as well as an electric pickup truck, an off-road vehicle similar to a Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyoda said Toyota will offer 30 battery-powered models by the end of the decade.

The Lexus brand will sell only electric cars by 2030 in the United States, Europe and China.

Pressure has been mounting on traditional automakers to switch to electrification; Tesla has devoured a large portion of the high-end car market in the United States, Europe and China. While sales of electric cars have grown faster than most automakers expected due to government incentives, as well as increased demand from car buyers who are concerned about the environment or who prefer electric cars for aesthetic or performance reasons. 

Increasing pressure on traditional automakers to switch to electrification; Tesla has devoured a large part of the high-end car market in the United States, Europe and China.

In Europe, battery-powered vehicles account for more than 10% of new car sales. President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan is expected to boost sales of electric vehicles in the United States. In addition to Tesla cars, there was strong demand for cars such as Ford's Mustang Mach-E, which is an electric version of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Coming next year, there's also demand for General Motors' Hummer pickup and Volkswagen's ID.4 all-wheel drive.

Toyoda, who has been criticized by environmentalists for the company's resistance to electric cars, noted that Toyota is still not ready to switch everything over to electric vehicles. He said the company will continue to sell hybrid cars and models that run on fossil fuels, because not all regions have electric vehicle chargers or the necessary infrastructure.

"It is not us, but the local markets and our customers who decide which features they choose," he said.

Turkish Cyprus showcases its electric car "Günsel" in London

An exhibition of electric vehicles in the British capital, London, witnessed the presentation of the first electric car of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Günsel car, designed, developed and produced by Near East University, occupied the opposite place to the famous Tesla cars during the show.

The electric vehicle exhibition in the British capital, London, witnessed the presentation of the first electric car of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The "Gunsel" car was designed, developed and produced by "Near East University", and work began on it in 2016, and it was placed opposite the famous "Tesla" cars.

The Chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, Irfan Suat Günsel, said in a statement to Anadolu Agency, that the car offers new opportunities for Turkish Cyprus, Turkey and the Turkish world.

He said, "Günsel is the product of a 50-year dream, and the childhood dream of our university president and founder Suat Günsel, which we achieved with the effort of more than 200 engineers and designers in 5 years."

He pointed out that they bought parts from 800 suppliers in 40 countries, including Turkey.

He pointed out that they plan to start serial production of the car at a university facility near the capital, Lefkosa, at the end of the first quarter of next year.

He stressed that they will initially produce 20,000 cars, and aim to increase the number according to the market and demand.