“How Toyota, a Laggard on Electric Cars, Got Its Fight Back” Article Reflection No. 92 (3/24/2024)

Article: “How Toyota, a Laggard on Electric Cars, Got Its Fight Back”

In the article “How Toyota, a Laggard on Electric Cars, Got Its Fight Back,” journalist Hiroko Tabuchi reports on Toyota’s response to recent EPA regulations limiting average tailpipe emissions, which were created in order to combat climate change. Featuring Toyota lobbyist Stephen Ciccone, the article describes the auto industry’s perspective, emphasizing the status quo of hybrid cars relative to electric ones. Noting Toyota’s power across the hybrid car sector,  Tabuchi writes about the manufacturer’s hesitance towards quick vehicle electrification, which is considered newsworthy given the previous stance(s) of the company on this issue. In addition to these EPA laws, the company criticized the Biden administration’s proposed tailpipe regulation proposals from 2023, according to Tabuchi. In order to assert its position on electric vehicles, Toyota also carried out a letter-based campaign, amassing support from car dealerships across the country, according to the article. 

In environmental policy, consistency seems to be one of those things that are needed in order to bring beneficial, effective consequences. I wonder what it takes to reach this consistency.