TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. revealed on Tuesday that it aims to raise its global sales of electric vehicles to 3.5 million units in 2030.

   The leading Japanese automaker will expand its lineup of electric vehicles by rolling out 30 models by 2030. It will make the Lexus luxury line a brand focusing on electric vehicles.

   The company will strengthen electric vehicles an option for customers to realize a carbon-free society.

   Toyota’s worldwide sales currently stand at about 10 million units a year. The automaker’s sales target for electric vehicles in 2030 had been set at two million units, including fuel cell vehicles.

   “We revised up (the goal) after viewing countries’ energy policies,” Toyota President Akio Toyoda said at a briefing in Tokyo.

   Toyota kept its goal of logging annual global sales of eight million electrified vehicles, including electric vehicles, by 2030.

   The amount of its investment by 2030 to accelerate developing electric vehicles is set at 4 trillion yen, including 2 trillion yen for electric vehicle batteries, up 500 billion yen from the initial plan.

   An additional 4 trillion yen will be invested for strengthening the company’s hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.

   Lexus models sold in Europe, North America and China will all be electric vehicles in 2030 and will also be electric in other parts in the world in 2035.

   Toyota will continue providing a wide range of vehicles including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles, as well as engine vehicles with improved environmental performance, for decarbonization.

   “We’re working hard on all options,” Toyoda said on the company’s reputation as reluctant to shift to making only electric vehicles.

   “Customers are the one to choose” which vehicle to drive or ride in, Toyoda added.

JIJI Press