Select your preferred store for a more customised experience.
Toyota NZ Sustainability Report recommits to carbon reductions
In its just released 2024 Sustainability Report, Toyota New Zealand has recommitted to carbon reduction targets across its business, from its operations to the lifetime carbon emissions of the new vehicles it sells.
Toyota is serious about its responsibility to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases from the transport sector. It has set a 2030 target of a 46 percent reduction of emissions based on a 2019 benchmark year. Further ahead, it has set itself a target of being net carbon zero by 2050 in line with the New Zealand Government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
Toyota NZ Acting Chief Executive Tatsuya Ishikawa says the company is committed to decarbonising New Zealand by offering sustainable products and services.
“We have set ourselves an ambitious CO2 reduction target, one that forces change on us. But we also acknowledge there will be challenges along the way,” Ishikawa says.
Two years into its decarbonisation plan Toyota NZ reports that operational emissions are on track to meet the end of the decade target. Initiatives to use more renewable energy and install solar panels at its Stores is paying off from a carbon point of view.
However, reducing the tailpipe emissions from the vehicles it sells is more challenging as there are several factors that will determine the success or not of reaching the goal. At this stage, six years out from 2030, Toyota is forecasting a 37 per cent reduction in tailpipe emissions or a nine per cent shortfall of its target. The target for the end of this decade is based on current business projections and a sales mix of mostly hybrid, plug-in hybrid and zero-emitting vehicles.
“Meeting the 46 percent target will depend on a range of factors, many of which are outside of our control, such as access to low or zero emitting products, customer demand for zero emissions cars, economic conditions, infrastructure growth, increased competition and regulatory settings.
“But we are not resiling from our target. We will continue to electrify our portfolio and have passed the halfway point, with 55 percent of Toyota new vehicle sales now electrified in the form of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles. We are targeting 85 percent by 2027 and 90 percent by 2030,” Ishikawa says.
The long-term success of the decarbonisation plan will be closely linked to customer take up of battery and zero emission vehicles as well as charging station roll out and technology developments such as longer-range batteries.
As well as low-emitting vehicles, Toyota NZ is pursuing other zero carbon initiatives with its investment into the hydrogen economy. It helped develop hydrogen fuel cell chase boats for the America’s Cup, has imported hydrogen powered electricity generators and continues to grow its hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai car-sharing programme in Auckland.
Ishikawa says for Toyota, sustainability means delivering exceptional customer service, valuing our business connections and meeting the needs of our customers.
“When we think of sustainability, we consider environmental care, societal impact, and, importantly, long term economic prosperity. The need to strike the right balance between all these impact areas is at the core of our business.”
Toyota’s vision is to evolve from a traditional car company to a mobility company, benefiting society and future generations through collaboration and diversification.
“Our goal is to enable our customers to make informed choices based on their functional needs, safety, affordability and emissions. At the same time, we are ensuring that sustainability is accessible and practical for a wide audience.”
As a leading and most respected brand in New Zealand, Toyota has a responsibility to Kiwis to reflect and uphold the values that they care about. With over 60 Toyota Stores around Aotearoa, Toyota is deeply involved in communities in many supportive and meaningful ways. All Stores contribute to local clubs, sports and community organisations, while Toyota New Zealand show their support through several national partnerships.
The 2024 Toyota NZ Sustainability Report is available now on the Toyota NZ website. The report focuses on a wide range of environmental and social initiatives, including recycling efforts, low carbon fuels used by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and social programmes such as RYDA youth driver training.
The 2024 Sustainability Report can be read here: Sustainability Report 2024 - Toyota NZ