Toyota is dedicated to develop safe and environmental friendly vehicles, introducing manyworld’s first technologies in these fields. Currently the automotive industry is facing theurgent challenges of making vehicles cleaner, reducing CO_2 emissions, and diversifyingfuel sources. At the same time, it remains key to develop vehicles from the customer’sviewpoint and maximizing driving pleasure.While development of electric vehicles (EVs) is proceeding, the use of conventionalpetroleum-derived fuels in combination with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology willcontinue for still a long time. It is also expected that biofuels and gaseous fuels such asCNG will become more important in the future.Conventional gasoline and diesel engines will adopt new technologies to maximize powerand fuel efficiency and minimize CO_2 emissions. Similarly, performance aspects of hybridvehicles (HVs) are likely to see further enhancement. As the need for utilization ofelectricity for mobility is understood, greater emphasis will be placed on developing plug-inhybrid vehicles (PHVs), combining the advantages of low emissions and CO2 for shortdistance electric driving as well as flexibility and driving range for long distances bycombustion engine. With progress being made toward increasing battery energy density,EVs may have higher market possibilities.With increasing pace of motorization, the BRIC markets, most notably China, India, andBrazil, are continuing to expand to the same market size as or even beyond developedregions. Another challenge for automakers is to respond to different vehicle usage anduser needs in these markets, which are already demanding the introduction of latesttechnologies as currently adopted in developed countries. As the range of available fuelqualities and vehicle usage conditions widen, safety, environment and quality remainpriorities rather than rapidly increasing sales volumes.
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