Toyota HYBRID sales UP 40% in Europe as buyers look for diesel alternatives

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Toyota’s belief in petrol electric hybrid powertrains for its cars sees hybrid sales in Europe up 40% in 2016 as diesel loses favour.

We’ve long complained that the belief buyers have that diesel engines for cars are the ‘clean’ choice – a belief promoted by government tax policies favouring diesel-engined cars – is completely wrong.

But as the Volkswagen Dieselgate crisis continues to unfold, buyers and governments are finally starting to see that diesel engines are the real polluters, causing real harm to real people, even if they emit less CO2 than a petrol engine.

In fact, the backlash against diesel from governments is likely to see diesel cars banned from major cities in the next decade.

Not only that, but the expense of making diesel engines comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations will see car makers looking for diesel alternatives.

One car maker which won’t need to look for an alternative to diesel is Toyota, which has persevered with their petrol electric hybrid powertrains despite its lack of sales success in diesel-obsessed Europe. But that’s changing – big time.

In the last year, Toyota’s hybrid sales have increased in Europe by a massive 40% – albeit from a relatively low market share of 4.3% for Toyota in Europe – and Toyota expect sales of their hybrids to account for 50% of European sales by 2020.

With new, more efficient, hybrid powertrains on the way for Toyota and Lexus, new models like the compact C-HR SUV (above) with its hybrid powertrain (and no diesel alternative) as well as plans to supply other car makers with its hybrid powertrains, Toyota looks to be in very good shape.

And, no doubt, patting it corporate back and congratulating itself for its prescience in eschewing the headlong dive in to diesel in Europe.