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Comment by worrycue | Hacker News Reader

I was just saying I don't think they are as far behind as many think. They seem to have all the components to make an EV.

As to why they haven't executed and delivered a car, who knows. Could be lack of profitability at the projected numbers they could sell vs cost to bring up a manufacturing line - in addition to, as you mentioned, cannibalization of more profitable products. VW, BMW, ... etc. are they making money or just eating losses selling EVs right now?

Maybe they aren't rushing it, it is a relatively new type of "engine/fuel" for them, and they want all the kinks and gotchas worked out before they release something to preserve their reputation for reliability.

That said, just because they haven't released anything doesn't necessarily mean they can't.

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Well, we will wait and see, I'd be very happy to see Toyota join the party and finally release a good EV.

It is not quite right to say that "they haven't released anything", there is e.g, the Toyota bZ4X, widely regarded as a really bad car (1). And other EVs that have made no impact (2)

1) https://cleantechnica.com/2022/06/26/toyota-bz4x-first-revie...

2) https://www.toyota.co.uk/electric

> It is not quite right to say that "they haven't released anything", there is e.g, the Toyota bZ4X, widely regarded as a really bad car (1). And other EVs that have made no impact (2)

So technically they have "joined the party". Granted they don't seem fully committed yet and don't seem to be trying very hard - based on the review you linked, they have QC problems ... on the wheels; and they haven't put much marketing muscle behind the others. At least they have a foot in the door.

Technically yes, and _only_ technically yes. I don't see Toyota bZ4Xs on the roads, no-one is looking forward to them. Do you know what a "compliance car" or "compliance vehicle" is? It's not a serious intent to be in that market.

Except we do know why because they have written blog posts about it. They would rather make 100 hybrids than 10 BEV's. They think it's better environmentally and they haven't said this part, but probably a lot more profitable as well.

Then where are their PHEVs? Their Prime vehicles have long waitlists and are produced in relatively small numbers. Either they can't make the margins with them or their access to battery supplies is very limited.

They have an electrified version of pretty much every car they sell.

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