Currently reading: Autocar confidential: Toyota's hybrid heroes, Ford's EV charger investment and more

Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up a week in gossip from across the automotive industry

In this week's round-up of automotive gossip, we chat hybrids with Toyota and design favourites with Mercedes, hear about Ford of Europe's EV charging plans and more.

Toyota's high-flying hybrids

Toyota's long-term hybrid strategy is paying off, as the firm believes it can avoid EU fines by meeting the mandated 95g/km CO2 fleet average from next year without radical change to its business model. European boss Johan van Zyl also claims even stricter 2025 targets will be met, thanks to 40 forthcoming new or updated electrified models; 90% of Toyotas will be hybrid or electric by then.

Mercedes' design favourite

Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener rates the AMG GT as his favourite design, likening it to the classic Jaguar E-Type. “I can’t pick favourites,” he said, “but if I had to do one last design, it would be a sports car like that. I love the long bonnet and the cockpit that makes you look and feel so good. Those types of projects are very special.”

3 Mercedes amg gt s tracking front

PHEV buyers to profit from Volvo's free electricity scheme

Volvo's scheme to offer a year of free electricity to buyers of its plug-in hybrids could make money for many of them. Volvo will pay cash to buyers for every charge over the first year, calculated on a baseline average for a kWh of electricity in the UK, regardless of where and how the user has charged – even if they’ve done so at work and therefore not had to pay for the charge themselves.

2 Volvo xc40 plug in hybrid stationary front

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Ford's EV charger splurge

Ford of Europe will add 1000 charging stations to its sites in the next three years. The plan was announced as boss Stuart Rowley called on local authorities to support the push for electrification. “Infrastructure is critical to helping consumers have the confidence to go electric,” he said, “but we can’t do it on our own. Accelerated investment by all the key stakeholders across the UK and Europe is more important than ever.”

1 Ionity ev charging stations

READ MORE

New Toyota small SUV gets all-wheel drive and hybrid powertrain 

New Toyota Aygo to be designed, developed and built in Europe 

Toyota Corolla goes hybrid-only for 2020

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xxxx 25 February 2020

Toyota

Spend wisely on MILD-Hybrids wasted billions on Hydrogen 

LP in Brighton 25 February 2020

Quite right, Toyota has invested wisely

Toyota has now made millions of hybrids, they are widely respected and, aided by the Atkinson cycle engine and eCVt transmission, the cars achieve much better fuel economy and CO2 emissions than could be achieved with an unaided petrol engine. Furthermore Toyota makes money from them (and is not likely to incurr EU fines) plus the experience gained with batteries, high power electronic control systems and electric motors will make the jump to full EVs a much easier proposition that it is proving for some other manufacturers.

I would never underestimate Toyota, it is an exceptionally clever, far sighted and profitable company that does most things right. 

The Apprentice 25 February 2020

LP in Brighton wrote:

LP in Brighton wrote:

Toyota has now made millions of hybrids, they are widely respected and, aided by the Atkinson cycle engine and eCVt transmission, the cars achieve much better fuel economy and CO2 emissions than could be achieved with an unaided petrol engine. Furthermore Toyota makes money from them (and is not likely to incurr EU fines) plus the experience gained with batteries, high power electronic control systems and electric motors will make the jump to full EVs a much easier proposition that it is proving for some other manufacturers.

I would never underestimate Toyota, it is an exceptionally clever, far sighted and profitable company that does most things right. 

Also very heavily investing in battery R&D, more powerful, cheaper battery discoveries along with the things you mentioned will be the final piece of the jigsaw unlocking an EV future. Putting them in a leading position.

speculatrix 25 February 2020

Toyota have blown it

They had a great lead in the industry, and blew it with their "self charging hybrid" crap.
The Apprentice 25 February 2020

speculatrix wrote:

speculatrix wrote:

They had a great lead in the industry, and blew it with their "self charging hybrid" crap.

Blown it how? my RAV4 does 'self charge'its an accurate term and its certainly not crap, giving same power and mpg a comparable auto diesel SUV would achieve but with even lower emissions and a lower tax bill than the diesel. And the bonus of no tractor engine noise.

If that's blowing it, then long may they keep blowing it!