Toyota, while slower to fully embrace electric vehicles, may become the first major automaker to phase out gasoline-powered cars entirely. With a two-decade commitment to hybrid technology, Toyota is now accelerating its transition to a hybrid-only lineup. Two executives revealed plans to convert most, if not all, Toyota and Lexus models to hybrid powertrains, diverging from the industry’s push for fully electric vehicles.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has long advocated for a “multi-pathway” strategy, incorporating hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, and green fuels, rather than solely focusing on electric cars.

Key models like the RAV4 and Camry are already moving toward hybrid-only versions, with the Camry discontinuing its gasoline-only option for 2025 and the RAV4 considering the same for 2026.

Toyota is also expanding its lineup of plug-in hybrids to meet emissions regulations and benefit from government incentives. This hybrid strategy offers a cost-effective, gradual approach to reducing emissions while giving Toyota time to further develop electric vehicle technology.

Experts predict that by 2030, Toyota will need to adopt a nearly all-hybrid lineup to comply with stricter emissions standards, enabling the company to make more deliberate decisions about its future technology while avoiding the rush to fully electrify.