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UMW Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy involves BEVs, PHEVs, FCEVs, and HEVs

May 12, 2023 11:00 am

Toyota has believed in a multi-pathway strategy for a sustainable future of transportation, and naturally, that belief is echoed by UMW Toyota Motor, the official distributor of Toyota cars in Malaysia. Not only betting on fully electric vehicles (BEVs), UMW Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy involves hybrid vehicles (HEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs).

Recently, UMW Toyota presented its multi-pathway strategy to members of the local media. Presented at the UMW Toyota headquarters, the company exhibited sample units of the Toyota bZ4x, a hybrid Toyota Camry, a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, and a cut-away of the Toyota Prius to exhibit the Toyota Hybrid system.

Toyota’s global multi-pathway strategy comprises 6 paths. In Malaysia, the strategy comprises 4 of the 6 paths

Before we get on to the cars that were on display, let’s first address the company’s multi-pathway strategy. Essentially, Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy involves HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, FCEVs, H2, and Carbon Neutral (CN) Fuel. As for UMW Toyota, the multi-pathway comprises 4 of the 6 paths of Toyota globally. In Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor’s multi-pathway consists of HEVs, BEVs, FCEVs, and PHEVs.

For those unfamiliar with the terms, here is a list of the abbreviations:

HEV – Hybrid Electric Vehicle
PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
BEV – Battery Electric Vehicle/Fully-electric vehicle
FCEV – Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
H2 – Hydrogen as a fuel in internal combustion engines
CN Fuel – Carbon Neutral Fuel

UMW Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy in Malaysia. Toyota has not laid out any plans on phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles

Toyota aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, Toyota has set 6 milestones or “challenges” for itself. The challenges are as such:

Challenge 1 – New Vehicle Zero CO2 emissions challenge
Challenge 2 – Life Cycle Zero CO2 emissions challenge
Challenge 3 – Plant Zero CO2 Emissions challenge
Challenge 4 – Challenge of Minimizing and Optimizing Water Usage
Challenge 5 – Challenge of establishing a recycling-based society and systems
Challenge 6 – Challenge of establishing a future society in harmony with nature

Toyota’s challenges in achieving its carbon neutrality aims by 2050

Toyota’s approach to its zero emissions is rather holistic as the company also looks into the entire life cycle of the car as opposed to just focusing on the emissions of the car as a unit itself. Besides its carbon neutrality stance, Toyota also shared its “Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach”, its “Multi-pathway toward Carbon Neutrality”, “CO2 Emissions by powertrain”, and its “HEV contribution to Malaysia” which features the hybrid Corolla Cross.

UMW Toyota Motor President, Datuk Ravindran K. said, “Toyota has a multi-pathway strategy towards carbon neutrality and this is evident through these green powertrains, each developed to best meet the unique needs of customers in different parts of the world. For Malaysia, we believe HEVs are the most suitable for Malaysians, considering the fuel source of our electricity generation and availability of charging infrastructure outside city centres in the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. We will add more HEV models in 2023.”

As for the cars on display, the 2 units of the Toyota bZ4x showed are sample units that were delivered to Malaysia for market research and technical evaluation on local road conditions. The units in Malaysia are the front-wheel drive (FWD) variant. The Toyota Camry Hybrid on display is not available for sale in Malaysia but is available in other markets like Thailand. The cut-away Prius was of the 4th generation, and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is a model that is available for purchase in Malaysia.

As of now, Toyota believes that HEV is the most practical and cost-effective solution for Malaysians today, promising immediate carbon reduction without compromising on long-distance driving practicality and peace-of-mind usage – values that customers expect from every Toyota model.

At the same time, Toyota recognises that BEV technology will also become a very important next piece to complete the puzzle of carbon-neutrality. To support the creation of a BEV-friendly ecosystem, UMWT will be supporting Malaysia’s goal of achieving 4,000 electric vehicle charging points by the end of this year.

GALLERY