https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_encumbrance_of_large_...
> Toyota worked together with Tesla Motors to develop the second generation RAV4 EV, and the electric SUV was released in the United States in September 2012.
Seems like they might have been in petroleum's back pocket this whole time.
"Old school" manufacturers like BMW and VW may look like they are doing better because of the dozens of models they've released but the actual sales numbers are so tiny that their impact is basically 0.
The Prius on the other hand was a massive sales success, and it really was what made hybrids a thing.
Please find year to date (2021) EV sales by car group here: https://eu-evs.com/bestSellers/ALL/Groups/Year/2021
Volkswagen is outselling Tesla.
Adding the Volkswagen entries in the Model column gets to about 102k.
Is the left column all cars? Or includes hybrids?
Adding the Models, VW is slightly ahead at about 102k vs about 95k for Tesla.
I think it's just a case executive incompetence/severe tunnel vision: Toyota has been in hydrogen lala-land for a good long while now. Now they have some serious catching up to do.
Coincidentally, public opinion in both countries are staunchly against nuclear power, which I suspect played a role. When you eliminate a proven, stable source of power, you end up campaigning for everybody to use less electricity "to save the Earth." Once you buy that argument, EVs start to look less palatable. (Better to peddle hydrogen and don't look too close at how it's made.)
Japanese government as part of climate change efforts bet on hydrogen. The theory being that it's clean burning and such. However, the realization that hydrogen was already a mature industry and it's entirely derived from fossil fuels... that was a very dumb move on their part.
>It's surprising to see that even GM, BMW and Mercedes have "regular" electric cars in the market while Toyota has nothing more than a Tron-car sub-brand concept.
Everyone except Japan. Hyundai ioniq 5 is a crossover that can drag race against mclarens. Teslas are beasts. New Hummer is epic. The new Mustang mache is better than the regular mustang. VW id4 is perfect for what it is supposed to be. GTX performance is coming?
Worse yet, this toyota is kind of trash. Who made the decision that the base model has 150kw motor in 1 and then 2x 80kw in AWD. As opposed to the correct decision of 2x 150kw. The base model of 150kw, ok i get it. The top end being 160kw? Nope. wrong decision.