Hybrid Cars in India – Practical Solution of Future?
Today, when the whole world is moving towards electric vehicles (EVs), Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has made a bold and practical statement. He says that Hybrid Cars in India and globally are a better solution, especially when we analyse the entire vehicle life cycle – not just tailpipe emissions, but the entire process from production, battery manufacturing to disposal.
EVs vs Hybrid Cars – What is the Real Impact?
Akio Toyoda says that Toyota has sold 27 million hybrid cars so far since 1997 when the Prius was first launched. They claim that these 27 million hybrids are more eco-friendly than 9 million pure electric vehicles from an environmental impact perspective.
They said that if these 9 million EVs were manufactured in Japan, their carbon footprint would be higher. Because Japan’s electricity generation is still largely dependent on thermal power (such as coal and gas). So the power used to charge the electric car is also not clean.
Cost of Battery Production
Very rare materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are used to make batteries for EVs. Their mining, processing, and transportation have a significant negative impact on the environment. Akio Toyoda also highlighted that there are high logistics costs and emissions in bringing these raw materials from the source to the manufacturing units.
In this context, Hybrid Cars in India and globally become a more balanced and sustainable solution. Hybrid cars have a smaller battery, which also has a relatively low impact, and it also gets charged automatically – through self-charging technology.
EV Market Slowdown – A Reality
Toyota is not just giving a theory – current global market trends also support this viewpoint. GM has delayed its Silverado EV plans, Ford has acknowledged a drop in EV demand, and Tesla – considered the leader of the EV market – is also seeing sales decline.
Even in a large EV market like China, Tesla sold just 38,588 vehicles in May 2025, down 30% from the same month last year. This clearly shows that there has been a slowdown in global demand for EVs.
Hybrid Cars in India – Toyota’s Focus
Toyota has also focused more on hybrid vehicles than EVs in India. Currently, the company has multiple hybrid options that offer customers excellent mileage and practical pricing.
- Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder – Mileage of 27.97 kmpl, price starting from ₹17.68 lakh.
- Toyota Innova Hycross – TNGA hybrid petrol engine, priced between ₹27.78 lakh to ₹34.70 lakh.
- Toyota Camry Hybrid – Premium sedan with advanced hybrid tech, priced at ₹51.54 lakh.
The success of all these models shows that Hybrid Cars in India have become a practical, fuel-efficient and eco-friendly choice for consumers.
Conclusion: Do Hybrid Cars Have the Future?
Until the world’s energy supply becomes green, it is difficult to get the full benefit of EVs. This is why Hybrid Cars in India offer a perfect middle path – with fuel efficiency, lower emissions and without the same pressure on the infrastructure as in the case of EVs.
Toyota’s approach appears to keep long-term sustainability in mind. Akio Toyoda has presented a vision where hybrid technology can become a realistic and environmentally friendly choice for developing countries – especially in markets like India.