Models such as Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross and RAV4 are now no longer available as pure petrol cars. At least not at Toyota in Australia.
The Australians are now largely subject to the same model program as the Danes. At least when it comes to Toyota.
The importer 'down under' has chosen to remove the pure petrol versions of cars such as Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross and RAV4 from the programme.
Australians can still buy the models. But now it's 'hybrid only'. This is written by the Australian site CarSales .
All this in a market where the diesel-powered Ford Ranger is still the absolute best-selling car among Australians. However, Toyota is ready to defend the decision.
READ ALSO: Fiat's electric cars are selling so poorly that they are being converted into hybrids
According to the Japanese, the change, which means goodbye to a total of nine purely petrol-powered models, is due to adapting to the market. The brand predicts that hybrids, along with pure electric cars, will account for more than half of the new car market in Australia as early as next year.
Having said that, Toyota protects parts of its own model range. At the performance department Gazoo Racing, they don't pay much attention to electric cars. In general, the boss does not want to build electric sports cars.
That's why Toyota doesn't bother with models like the GR Corolla, Supra and GR86 either. Those cars cruise on without any kind of hybrid assistance. Much suggests, however, that especially Supra sings on the last verse. Read more about it here.
Although Toyota is now bowing to the hybrids, it does not mean that the brand is ready to go much further than that. It recently emerged that the Japanese, together with Subaru and Mazda, will throw billions of kroner into the development of the internal combustion engine.
Mazda is even betting on the wankel engine, which has otherwise only recently made a comeback as a range extender in the small electric car MX-30. A sports car may also be on the way.Read more about it here .
Read more exciting news from and about the world of cars right here!