‘Many Areas Where People Cannot Get By Without Gas Cars’

While many carmakers were rushing to set end dates for combustion engines, Toyota remained silent. Most of its rivals have since walked back their electric-only plans, recommitting to gas-fueled cars for the next decade and even beyond. Meanwhile, the world’s largest automaker has been investing in a new family of smaller, more efficient four-cylinder gas engines it intends to deploy across its lineup.

In a new article published in Toyota Timesits official in-house magazine, the automotive juggernaut explains why combustion engines remain a necessity. Speaking in the context of the immensely popular Corolla, the uneven adoption of electric vehicles has made it clear that the sedan needs to retain gas engines for the next generation.

‘Toyota often points out when explaining its multi-pathway strategy, energy conditions vary by region. Even within the same city, some people find electric vehicles convenient, while others prefer hybrids. There are still many areas where people simply cannot get by without gasoline-powered cars.’

Toyota has a valid point. Charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped in many parts of the world, so range anxiety persists. Plenty of people don’t want to worry about running out of charge on longer trips and prefer to stick with ICE cars. Even where charging stations are available, the significantly longer time needed to replenish a battery remains a hurdle many would rather avoid.

While some EVs support ultra-fast charging and certain stations can deliver higher power levels, the infrastructure isn’t mature enough for global adoption yet. The convenience of having a gas station nearby and refueling in minutes remains a decisive factor for many new-car buyers.

Cost also plays a role, as price parity between combustion-engine cars and EVs has yet to be reached. Vehicles with traditional powertrains are still significantly cheaper to buy, albeit they’re becoming more expensive to run as fuel prices rise amid the Middle East crisis.

There’s no denying that global EV demand is growing, even as the market cools in the United States. Kelley Blue Book reports EV share fell from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent year over year. Despite the dip, it was still the second-best year ever for electric car sales in the U.S.

Last year, purely electric cars accounted for 19.5 percent of new-car registrations in Europe, specifically across the 27 European Union countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) shows a notable increase compared to 2024, when EVs held a 15.4 percent share.

What about China? A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation shows New Energy Vehicles reached a 54 percent share in 2025. However, NEVs also include plug-in hybrids. Adding PHEVs to the European tally brings the total to 29.1 percent.

Whether you’re team ICE, EV, or somewhere in between (hybrids), Toyota’s next Corolla will have something to suit your preferences:

‘Regardless of energy conditions or lifestyle, we aim to create a Corolla that someone in that location will want to drive. To put it another way, we aim to build the capability to produce these vehicles efficiently and generate profit. This is the essence of Corolla development planning.’

The thirteenth generation of the world’s best-selling nameplate was previewed last year by a radical-looking concept. Although it was electric, Toyota is also planning a hybrid version, and a plug-in hybrid can’t be ruled out. It’s unclear whether some markets will also receive a pure ICE version.

We do know that Toyota has teamed up with Mazda and Subaru to extend the life of combustion engines by experimenting with carbon-neutral fuels such as liquid hydrogen, biofuel, and synthetic fuel.

Toyota’s pledge?

‘Make the future Corolla a car that meets the needs of diverse customers in various countries.’