What does Toyota's multi-pathway approach to sustainable mobility mean?
Our multi-pathway approach to sustainable mobility is increasingly understood. Initially, many companies set ambitious carbon neutrality targets and declared their commitments. Now, the focus has shifted towards implementation and real impact. Unlike other OEMs, our regional portfolio is quite diverse, reflecting varied car usage and renewable energy adoption rates across different regions. In some areas, people still lack access to electricity. Hence, achieving carbon neutrality inclusively necessitates using diverse energies and platforms.
We are expanding our electrified vehicle (EV) lineups and investing in battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Additionally, we are focusing on hydrogen, especially in commercial vehicles. Recently, we have identified plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and carbon-neutral fuels as promising combinations for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This approach allows us to adapt to varying regional needs while working towards our sustainability goals.
What are Toyota's sustainability goals?
In 2020, our chairman, then president Akio Toyoda , declared Toyota's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While global sustainability often focuses on decarbonization, it's a broad concept encompassing many issues. Toyota is committed to tackling all 17 SDGs, integrating them into our operations. For example, we are developing a new city, Woven City, near Mount Fuji, not as a utopian ideal but as an ever-evolving living laboratory to test new technologies and services in a human-centered manner.
This city will trial high-resolution logistics, robotics, and other advanced technologies with our partners and residents. Our aim is to create a sustainable, adaptable environment that reflects our broader commitment to the SDGs, showcasing how technology and sustainability can coexist and evolve together.
How is Toyota integrating circular economy principles, particularly in battery recycling?
Since 2015, we've been addressing carbon neutrality and the circular economy. Our focus includes designing vehicles for easy dismantling, adopting recycled materials, and building systems for proper treatment and recycling of vehicles. We collaborate closely with dismantlers to ensure our designs facilitate easy disassembly and recycling, thereby minimizing environmental impact.
We also emphasize capacity building and collaboration across sectors. For instance, we've developed large-capacity energy storage systems with Japanese electricity companies. Our business model is evolving to service-based offerings, ensuring product collection and creating ongoing value for customers. This shift enables us to maintain control over the lifecycle of our products, enhancing sustainability through continuous updates and personalized services.
How does Toyota approach diversity and inclusion (DEI), particularly in Japan?
Our mission is to create happiness for all, which means delivering varied and inclusive values to our stakeholders. To that end, we aim to transform from a traditional car manufacturer to a mobility company. This transformation involves offering diverse hardware and services, connecting vehicles to social infrastructure, and emphasizing workforce diversity and inclusion.
Toyota is committed to empowering women and promoting diversity in Japan and everywhere else in the world. Under the leadership of our new president, Koji Sato, we recently held our first global women's conference in Japan, highlighting the commitment to female empowerment.
We are now pushing forward our transformative initiative to translate the success of the conference into action, building a corporate environment friendly to a diverse workforce, not only women.
The initiative reflects our broader strategy to integrate diverse perspectives and enhance our organizational culture. We strongly believe it will drive our successful transformation to a mobility company to deliver varied and inclusive value to our customers and stakeholders.
What are Toyota's future trends and innovations in sustainability?
Our transformation into a mobility company is driven by sustainability. We envision a society where everyone can move comfortably, safely, and happily. Innovation is key to this vision, and our "mobility concept" encapsulates our future goals. We are leveraging AI, autonomous driving, and hydrogen technologies, among others, to achieve this transformation.
Our Woven City project near Mount Fuji will play a crucial role, acting as a hub for testing and implementing new technologies. By collaborating with various partners, we aim to accelerate our efforts and create a sustainable, innovative future that benefits all.
How important is motorsport to Toyota's development of new technologies?
Motorsport is integral to Toyota, for developing new technologies and fostering team spirit. It accelerates our development process by providing a fast-paced, competitive environment where teams work together to achieve specific goals. This collaborative effort enhances both our technological advancements and the skills of our workforce.
Working closely with our stakeholders in motorsports has taught us valuable lessons about sustainability. Ensuring stakeholder happiness and addressing their concerns is essential for the sustainability of our motorsports business and the company as a whole. These principles of collaboration and problem-solving apply broadly to our sustainability efforts, helping us create a more sustainable and inclusive community.
