Toyota pushes zero-emission goals by converting old models

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

How long before someone points out the outdated sexism in this photo?

Are those all of the female execs Toyota has? I thought Friday was casual day at the office.

Those are the models that are being converted....funny, they don't look "old" to me.

Chibakun

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

Toyota pushes zero-emission goals by converting old models

These models don't look that old. Is that after conversion?

Toyota Motor Corp Chief Executive Akio Toyoda, right, and Koji Sato, Toyota Gazoo Racing Company president, left, pose on the stage at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Chiba on Friday. 

What about the ladies in the background? Who are they?

How long before someone points out the outdated sexism in this photo?

Sheesh I reckon. The new fangled modern sexism is much better.

Why do Toyota need so many models?

"zero emission", as we all (including Toyota) know, is nothing but an empty platitude that would result in the deaths of billions if actually attempted.

How long before someone points out the outdated sexism in this photo?

at least another millennia or 7 because its what men and women want.

LOL, mates. LOL.

To see a frown here is a rare treat so great to see everyone there looking so happy and smiley.

In the world of car culture it is still 1957 and Fangio has just won his 5th Championship and make us a cup of tea, doll.

In the world of car culture it is still 1957 and Fangio has just won his 5th Championship and make us a cup of tea, doll.

If only. Women and men were much happier back then.

A great idea! And Toyota is the first car company to turn an idea into reality! Hurry up other companies! Not only in Japan! But all over the world! Copy Cat! To save our world!!

Put the men into shorts, please, to match the leggy ladies. I am into men't legs, so let's go for fashion attire equality. OR, skip the overt sexism. JMHO!

Excellent news! There's a reason Toyota is number one around the world.

To think there are still a significant number of dullards out there who keep spouting "electric vehicles will never work!" These were the types who flunked out of Junior High!

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

They converted old models to new ones.

Someone tell toyoda sama to put V6 diesels in GR hilux Prado n all the GR badged vehicle with 6 cylinder engines at least instead of GR badge only put different engines instead of regular four bangers for your GR performance vehicle GR Yaris is an exception here though

Toyoda told reporters it would take a long time for all the cars to become zero emission, as they only make up a fraction of the vehicles being sold. Changing old cars to go green, or “conversion,” was a better option, he said.

I'm struggling to understand this. So instead of making new electric cars, which can be made with everything working and optimized for an electric cars, its better to get a customer to drive a petrol car in and replace its engine, transmission etc., patch up the rust, add a big heavy battery that the chassis wasn't designed for, somehow balance the weight distribution of the whole thing so it drives okay, and then say "away you go in your new electric car"? That sounds like an expensive way to make a bad car. It might be worth if the bodywork is an Fairlady 240Z (yes, that's a Nissan) but its not going to be worth it for an old Voxy or other humdrum family car.

Japan and it's boasting ojichan next to glittering young girls.

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

Japan is still a patriarchy that treats women as objects.

Gahan

Today 05:21 pm JST

Why do Toyota need so many models?

nondualism

Today 05:48 pm JST

It's great to see Toyota leading corporate Japan to greater women empowerment in the workplace (not)

Etc...

The only people these models bother are those unable to do that work and get well paid just for looking good!

My sister paid her way through university on part time modeling gigs because she was beautiful.

I worked summers and weekends as manual labour making half the money she was working half the hours I was.

More power to her and then, if someone is going to pay them just to look good great for them

One wonders about how economically rational it is to take the engine, drive train, emmissions system out of an old car, insert an electric motor, battery, and revamp the suspension (because the car will have a different balance and likely be much heavier) and install a new dash monitoring system vs. just build a new car.

There is the recycling aspect and material sourcing aspect, but still, that is a LOT of refurbishment on a partially or nearly totally depreciated vehicle.

I find the economics of it on a large scale "dubious"...

There aren’t enough chargers for electric models and there will never be…

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?"

It's a tradition. And Toyota is a traditional company, as it remains committed to producing lots of gasoline burning cars well into the future. Also, Asia tends to be more traditional than Western countries when it comes to staging auto shows and other related events.

"Toyoda said ecological efforts in the auto industry were starting to be appreciated in many nations, but he felt less appreciated in Japan."

Toyoda is right about that!! USA, China and Europe are full speed towards electric vehicles while Japan is not. But Toyota and other Japanese companies could do more in Japan to promote the benefits of electric vehicles.

And please stop using "booth babes" its sexist and old-fashioned. Research shows that women influence 70 to 80 percent of all consumer purchasing. Specifically, regarding car ownership, women influence over 84% of vehicle purchase decisions.

The only people these models bother are those unable to do that work and get well paid just for looking good!

Nobody criticised the models, but Toyota.

Could you imagine a picture of two top female Toyota managers in black suits presenting the show surrounded by a dozen of smiling macho models? Lol

I know, it would be the opposite situation, but you get the idea.

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

To give men an interest in the topic

They all look sassy! Great car company!

Electric cars are not zero-emission vehicles. They are just passing the emissions to the power plants.

The article fails to mention the 40,000 children working in cobalt mines for $1-2 per day to get the minerals required to make these.

Also, good luck having the grid support all of the vehicles that would need to be charged.

I swear, people are so easily deceived.

Beautiful ladies. the boys complaining about sexism probably watch more porn than most

invalid CSRF

Who said Sex doesn't sell?

First stop producing DIESEL engines here and abroad then lets talk about Electric and hybrid. What a shame , Toyota still produces automobiles and 4x4 with diesel engines.

Oh I think those models look really great. Oh Sorry! We're talking about cars. Wrong models. LOL.

Anyway Toyota, really dropped the ball on this. They could have taken a massive lead on the TVs while also working on the fuel cell side project for the heavier trucks or cars.

When will Chinese and Korean automobiles be allowed in Japan, they are as good as it gets and much cheaper in many cases. The Japanese consumers are being deprived of this option of being able to purchase an affordable automobile.

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

Decoration. Deal with it.

Fighto!Today  05:43 pm JST

Excellent news! There's a reason Toyota is number one around the world. 

To think there are still a significant number of dullards out there who keep spouting "electric vehicles will never work!" These were the types who flunked out of Junior High

Most of materials for batteries are still from China where they’re made using energy from coal and in the US from energy from fossil fuels. No net reduction of emissions if you think that’s the purpose of EV’s.

Its not about EV’s not working, it’s about having the infrastructure to operate them, the materials needed for batteries that are not that plentiful and the inability to increase the supply to keep pace with unrealistic goals of implementing EV’s on a larger scale. The electrical grid is still generated from mostly fossil fuels and coal, and the only clean emission generation from nuclear power is not going to increase.

The infrastructure can barely keep up with demand now. Rapid expansion of EV’s is a pipe dream.

Apart from a nice day out for the office ladies, they're there to make those dynamic thrusting business execs look just that, rather than the staid image which would come across if the girls weren't present......

A bit anachronistic in these times, like the obsession with the car industry for high-speed / rallies / racing etc..... nowadays, slow and careful considerate driving should be the mantra, when you think of the daily worldwide death-toll on the roads.

many people who live in apartments don't have cars. I guess parking spaces can have charging devices installed. How long before wifi charging it's on the way?

How long before someone points out the outdated sexism in this photo?

Yeah, true! They should've taken equality seriously and laid macho guys and disabled people on the back too, posing that way.

Changing old cars to go green, or “conversion,” was a better option, he said.

l would imagine that shaken would be very expensive since it would be considered a used car and the conversion would have to be done by Toyota or the original manufacturer.

But who wants a used Toyota with an electric motor? I want a VDub or a Honda. But seriously, where is all the lithium coming from?

Electric cars will be a complete failure.

Who will maintain the cars after the batteries are damaged?

 Don't be fooled by the mass media!!

To everyone complaining about the attractive ladies in the photo, nobody is forcing them to be there. They have the freedom to turn down the job if they think they're being objectified. Or are they victims of Marxian "false consciousness"?

For all you know, some of them could be engineering students paying their way through university by doing modelling gigs, and might end up with Toyota designing cars.

Electric cars were thought by the Western Globalist elite to destroy Japanese Car Industry.

This will be tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot as the West becomes even more dependent of China.

@Antiquesaving In other words sex sells and balls inflate jiggle jiggle !!

The only people these models bother are those unable to do that work and get well paid just for looking good!

My sister paid her way through university on part time modeling gigs because she was beautiful.

I worked summers and weekends as manual labour making half the money she was working half the hours I was.

More power to her and then, if someone is going to pay them just to look good great for them

What are all the attractive women on the stage for?

My Guess, somebody gotta distract you from Toyoda's massive ears. and since the cars are old models young vibrant good looking woman would do a better job at said distraction.

MarkToday  08:23 pm JST

When will Chinese and Korean automobiles be allowed in Japan, 

South Korean cars have always been "alllowed" in Japan. Poor sales caused Hyundai to leave the Japanese market 12 years ago. But Hyundai announced in Feb 2022 that they are returning.

As for Chinese cars, not sure who other than Chinese domestic buyers would want a Chinese car. But, Chinese cars have also always been "allowed" in Japan. China's BYD has announced entry into the Japanese market in 2023.

2020s car tech. 1970s PR. Hilarious.

Was this press conference/photo shoot done in 1960's retro fashion style or is japan inc still living in the past? Answers on a stamp addressed post card to Toyota HO1963.

Not a car buff but it's at the Tokyo auto salon, isn't that the car / racing / race queen promotion thingamajig? So that explains the bg thats causing all the commotion.

With regards to changing ev on existing vehicles, sounds like empty pr.

You are witnessing the twilight of Toyota and Japan's auto industry collectively, inflexible and failing adapt to the change of times.

"Gazoo"? For some reason I immediately thought of that little green alien guy from The Flintstones (voiced by the late, great Harvey Korman) :)

wallaceJan. 13  09:03 pm JST

many people who live in apartments don't have cars. I guess parking spaces can have charging devices installed. How long before wifi charging it's on the way?

Some areas have 2-6 cars.

Changing old cars to go green, or “conversion,” was a better option

That's a rather noble but dubious claim. To completely remove a combustion engine and retrofit it into an electric / fuel cell engine; while both completely mechanically and electrically doable (it's nothing new), the conversion costs and driving driving range inefficiencies may make this a nonstarter for most non-urban consumers. Also, this conversion process in and of itself isn't without generating a lot of industrial waste that has to be disposed of in some manner. Sure, it's completely doable to convert an older car into what will amount to be a glorified golf cart, but it's only going to satisfy what will be a niche market of consumers who don't primarily use such vehicles as their primary means of transportation.

I remember Japan used to be a conservative society. There sure are a lot of bare legs onstage. I hope they achieve their goal of no emissions. I am skeptical though. I think he thinks he is a Japanese James bond with all the women around him.

“I don’t want to leave any car lover behind,”

Really? Car lovers, by that I mean enthusiasts, don't buy Toyotas. Watching paint dry is more exciting than anything Toyota makes.

I'm struggling to understand this. So instead of making new electric cars, which can be made with everything working and optimized for an electric cars, its better to get a customer to drive a petrol car in and replace its engine, transmission etc., patch up the rust, add a big heavy battery that the chassis wasn't designed for, somehow balance the weight distribution of the whole thing so it drives okay, and then say "away you go in your new electric car"

BMW is doing exactly the same thing. Their gas and electric 7-Series will be the same car with different drivelines.

https://www.autoweek.com/news/future-cars/a39766185/bmw-offers-gas-electric-drivetrains-in-redesigned-7-series/

"Gazoo"? For some reason I immediately thought of that little green alien guy from The Flintstones (voiced by the late, great Harvey Korman) :)

I was looking at a line of attractive young ladies and thinking the word gazoo might suggest something Toyota didn't intend the gentle viewer to think about O_O

This will be tantamount to shooting ourselves in the foot as the West becomes even more dependent of China.

How so? MP Minerals is in the process of rebuilding the entire rare earth supply chain, from mining to final processing in the US. Toyota has a separate program to do the same for North America. There is no shortage of rare earth minerals. Sweden just discovered a huge supply and Japan has perhaps the worlds largest laying on the seabed inside Japanese territorial waters and its EEZ.

https://mpmaterials.com/about/

https://www.dw.com/en/sweden-discovers-europes-largest-known-rare-earths-deposit/a-64365661

https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-020-00524-y

BMW is doing exactly the same thing. Their gas and electric 7-Series will be the same car with different drivelines.

With respect DT, it isn’t the same. BMW is offering new vehicles with different drivetrains straight from the production line. Toyota is offering to swap out gas engines for electric on old, used vehicles.

However once the processes are in place it shouldn’t make much difference. Just an expensive procedure for current vehicle owners that go through with it… and it’s possible other manufacturers will follow this.

Toyota trying to stay relevant.

How many homes are in Tokyo?

7 million. 70% are apartments.

How many cars?

3 million

Come on who don’t like a beautiful lady or ladies in a photograph

Why does this make me think of "Back to the future 2" and the 2015 hover conversion add?

And like ive mentioned twice previously Russia has successfully produced those minerals artificially in the laboratory !

Russia has only one plant capable of processing rare earth minerals from ore and it is a old Soviet era plant. Care to back this claim of yours? In any event Russia faces no shortage of rare earth elements in the ground in Siberia. What they lack is modern processing capability. Currently most of their ore is sent to China for separation and purification.

At this moment in time China has the most of the refined minerals ready for use.

If you look at the link I posted earlier for Mountain Pass Minerals you will see they are building a finished processing plant in the US now. In another year the US will not need to buy from China. In addition Toyota is building a separate capability in North American teaming with Canadian mines that will lead to them having finished rare earths for battery production. China kind of ruined for themselves by being so obviously greedy and cutting Japan off from their supply a few years ago. Now you find many nations building their own complete rare earth mining, separation and refining infrastructure.

US DoE Oak Ridge National Laboratory is also developing new separation technologies to speed up the process and cut costs.

https://www.ornl.gov/news/game-changing-rare-earth-elements-separation-technology-licensed-marshallton