LONDON: Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. has warned the British government that it may end production in Britain if the country bans sales of hybrid vehicles from 2030 as part of its carbon neutrality plans, the Sunday Telegraph reported Sunday.

Toyota makes a hybrid version of the Corolla and other vehicle models in Britain.

The British newspaper’s report was based on documents obtained by an environmental think tank through a freedom-of-information request.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, Toyota said that the hybrid vehicle ban would not only affect its operations, such as production and sales, but also future investments in Britain.

The British government has decided to prohibit sales of new gasoline-powered and diesel-powered vehicles from 2030. As for hybrid vehicles, new vehicle sales will remain allowed for models with high environmental performance until 2035.

In a new set of standards to be decided by year-end following talks with the auto industry and environmental groups, the sales extension to 2035 is expected to cover only a handful of plug-in hybrids.

The newspaper said that Toyota, which pioneered the hybrid vehicle segment with its rollout of the Prius, has lagged behind other automakers in the complete electrification of its vehicles.

If Toyota quits its production in Britain, the move will have a significant impact on the country’s auto industry, the newspaper quoted an expert as saying.

JIJI Press