Toyota NZ sustainability report releases as parent signals new ‘Green’ identifier.

BLUE days are assured for Toyota New Zealand’s emissions reduction plan - but no longer behind a badge of that hue.

Two announcements have crossed paths in respect to the make’s environmental ambitions.

Nationally, Palmerston North-headquartered TNZ has released its annual sustainability report.

It says it is on track to achieve 2030 emissions targets for the vehicles it sells and for its business operations, which is in line with the parent make’s global ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050. 

With specific reduction targets, TNZ says it is committed to ambitious science-aligned targets, including the reduction of tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sold vehicles.

TNZ chief executive Neeraj Lala says his operation’s commitment to customers is to provide an electrified option in all models as fast as possible. 

It will soon have a fully electric car, the bZ4X, and many of its mainstream passenger cars are now only sold in petrol-electric format. Lexus also has two electrics, and otherwise has hybrids.

“Serving customers and helping them transition to electrified vehicles that are affordable and accessible is at the forefront of everything we do and is what customers rely on us to help lead them into the future,” he says.

Meantime, Toyota Japan - aka Toyota Motor Company - has let slip that an easy identifier of the Toyota battery-assisted petrol-wed product, the blue T 'halo' emblem that mounts either on the grille or the bonnet, is to be quietly phased out.

The logo (below) has been has been in use since 2009.

US media say the latest Prius and hybrid versions of the Camry sedan and Crown flagship have reverted back to a traditional ‘T’ logo seen on all other models as part of a change in its global strategy.

In the future, as part of Toyota’s Beyond Zero initiative, all electrified Toyota cars including hybrids (HEVs), electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCEVs) will adopt Beyond Zero blue dot badging instead.

RAV4 and Corolla are the most popular Kiwi-favoured hybrids; the latter now only accommodates with that drivetrain.

Reports suggest they will drop their haloes after their mid-life refresh or replacement.

The new Camry coming here in late 2024 is expected to come with a blue dot on its rear boot lid, alongside ‘HEV’ (hybrid electric vehicle) lettering, rather than the T badge.

In commenting on the Toyota New Zealand 2023 Sustainability Report, Lala says the hybrid Corolla, RAV4 and Highlander are enormously popular with domestic and commercial customers as they offer full mobility combined with meaningful fuel and carbon savings.

 “The shift to focusing on electrified models – from hybrids to plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles in early 2024 – is enabling us as a brand to reduce tailpipe emissions from all vehicles we sell and meet our Clean Car Standard obligations,” he says.

“We are cutting carbon emissions from passenger vehicles, and our ambitious science-based targets of a minimum 46% reduction by 2030 are more than goals, they’re a driving force across our entire business, from operations to our product line-up,” Lala says.

He proposes that what sets TNZ apart from its competitors is its accountability of the entire vehicle’s environmental impact. 

“We’re not just reducing emissions, we’re the first to consider a vehicles entire lifespan in our reduction goals. As a founding signatory to the Climate Leaders' Coalition, we take our role in the country’s journey towards decarbonisation seriously. We’re setting the bar for the automotive industry in New Zealand.”