Yes, that’s a real recent story. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said in a June 2026 interview that he feels “very alone” in the industry for continuing to defend internal combustion engines (ICE) while almost everyone else races toward an all-electric future.
What He Actually Said
In an interview with Carwow’s Mat Watson, Toyoda was asked about his biggest fear for the future of cars. His response was candid:
“Everybody is shifting to BEVs, this is the biggest fear for me. Three or four years ago, I was the only one to say to the media that I love smell, I love sound and I love engines, and I want to keep the jobs for engine suppliers. But it seems to me that I’m the only one. I feel very alone.”
He also added:
“The automobile is my toy. I want to make the car which I want to keep in my garage. If I have to make only carbon neutral cars, it’s not exciting.”
Why This Matters
Toyoda has long been one of the most prominent voices pushing back against an “EV-only” future. His concerns include:
- Jobs — Millions of people work in engine-related manufacturing and supply chains (he has previously cited ~5.5 million people in Japan’s auto industry alone).
- Practicality — Not every market or use case is ready for full electrification due to charging infrastructure, cost, cold weather performance, or electricity grid realities.
- Driving enjoyment — He genuinely loves the character, sound, and feel of combustion engines.
Toyota under his influence has taken a multi-pathway approach rather than going all-in on battery EVs like many rivals:
- Dominant leader in hybrids (still the majority of their sales).
- Heavy investment in hydrogen (both fuel cell and hydrogen combustion engines).
- Continued development of pure ICE performance cars through the GR (Gazoo Racing) division.
Akio Toyoda has been a vocal supporter of enthusiast cars and performance models.
Toyota’s Current Direction
Despite launching some BEVs (like updated bZ models and new electrified versions of popular SUVs), Toyota continues to:
- Develop new gasoline engines and improve existing ones for efficiency and carbon-neutral fuels (e.g., biofuels or synthetic e-fuels).
- Build exciting ICE cars like the GR Corolla, GR Yaris, GR86, and upcoming models (including a rumored mid-engine sports car and a V8-powered GR GT concept).
Toyota GR Corolla and GR86 — examples of the kind of enthusiast ICE cars Toyoda wants to keep alive.
Public Reaction
Many car enthusiasts online sympathize with Toyoda. Posts on X and automotive forums often praise him for being one of the few major auto executives willing to publicly defend ICE and push back against what they see as politically driven, one-size-fits-all EV mandates. Some see Toyota’s more cautious, diversified strategy as having been proven right as EV adoption has slowed in several key markets.
Bottom Line
Akio Toyoda isn’t saying EVs are bad or that Toyota won’t make them. He’s saying an EV-only future is shortsighted, and that keeping a variety of powertrains (including efficient, fun-to-drive combustion engines) makes more sense for customers, jobs, and realistic emissions reductions.
Toyota remains one of the very few major automakers still heavily investing in keeping the internal combustion engine relevant rather than treating it as something to be phased out as quickly as possible.
