Toyota's hybrid strategy will spread: Pickups, SUVs add powertrain starting in '21

摘要

Toyota is hoping its broad hybridization strategy will pay off for other models as it has for the RAV4 Hybrid, which in June outsold the nonhybrid version of the crossover for the first time. The Japanese brand is banking on hybrids tuned to provide added horsepower and torque as well as fuel-savings as it begins to bring them to its pickups and body-on-frame SUVs beginning in 2021. Toyota believes the hybrid powertrains will differentiate the brand in those segments now dominated by the Detroit 3. Meanwhile, Toyota's investments in its core sedans will continue, although the pace and scale may be throttled back somewhat as those segments continue to lose share to crossovers. The brand has a track record of continuing in segments when others leave, a strategy that allowed the Tacoma to dominate the midsize pickup segment. But the slow sales pace of the Yaris sedan and hatchback proved too weak for even Toyota to stay active, leaving entry buyers to spend an additional $4,000 to move up to the Corolla.