Toyota has unveiled plans for a new generation of internal combustion engines, betting on a continued need for older technologies even as car buyers shift towards Tesla and other electric-vehicle makers.
In a rare joint appearance, the heads of Toyota, Mazda and Subaru pledged to continue investing in fuel-based technology, a move that would also benefit hundreds of suppliers struggling with the shift to electric vehicles.
“In an era when the development of battery electric vehicle technology is accelerating, there is a new role we can pursue for the internal combustion engine as well,” Toyota’s chief executive Koji Sato said, noting that the engines were designed to be used alongside batteries in hybrid vehicles.
Toyota’s commitment to internal combustion engine technology — which has traditionally relied on petrol or diesel as fuel — comes as sales of fully electric cars have slowed due to concerns about costs and insufficient charging networks.
That has led to a boom in demand for hybrids, prompting global rivals to increase investment in the models, which combine batteries and fuel engines.
