At Japan Mobility Show, Toyota Doubles Down on Carbon Neutrality Pledge

TOKYO: Two big changes at Asia’s largest automotive show happening in Japan this week are in the name. What was once called the Tokyo Motor Show is now the Japan Mobility Show, which is making a comeback after four years. The name change reflects the expansion of the car event beyond just mere motor vehicles and into all forms of mobility. 

The top Japanese carmakers are represented in the week-long event, with only three foreign brands to exhibit models—Germany’s Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and China’s BYD.

For industry leader Toyota—the world’s second largest carmaker by revenue in 2022 behind only the Volkswagen Group—the emphasis is on three words: electrification, intelligence, and diversification. 

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In this edition of JMS, the Toyota booth’s concept is Find Your Future. 

“The future is not decided by someone else,” said Koji Sato, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation. “The future is something we all create.”

Koji Sato, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, with the FT-3e

Photo by Toyota Motor Corp.

Sato highlighted Toyota’s commitment to battery EVs, which is a direct response to its perceived slowness in embracing BEV technology. 

“We are making battery EVs like only a true carmaker can,” Sato said. “This means revisiting the fundamental principles of carmaking and delivering basic performance, like driving range, as well as value that only battery EVs can offer.”

Sato highlighted BEVs with both a low center of gravity and spacious interiors, both of which were difficult to achieve with traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).

“If we have the technology to make cars smaller, lower and lighter—from sports cars and SUVs, to pick-up trucks and small vans—we can create a diverse lineup with outstanding quality.”

To emphasize his point, Sato unveiled two concept cars during the presentation—the FT-Se and the FT-3e. The FT-Se, in particular, is an electric sports car concept that looks performance-ready and reminds us of Toyota’s other sports cars like the 86 and the Supra.

The Toyota FT-Se concept at the Japan Mobility Show 2023

Photo by PJ Cana.

Sato also unveiled Toyota’s new software platform called Arene, which he says can use vehicle data “to speed up development that meets customer needs.” 

“The role of cars will be to connect societies and expand possibilities,” Sato said. 

One other interesting concept Sato unveiled is that of hardware expandability, which gives people’s cars flexibility to adapt to changing functions and uses. This was demonstrated in the IMV-0, which Toyota says is “infinitely customizable” depending on customers’ needs.

“The IMV-0 aims to create a mobility future that we all create together,” Sato said.

For its part, Lexus highlighted its role as a disruptor during its presentation, stressing how Toyota’s premium cars unit has broken a lot of rules and has become a pioneer in premium electrification.

The brand’s big reveal was the new LF-ZL concept, a BEV that stands for Lexus Future Zero-Emission Luxury and which is set to be Lexus’ flagship for a zero-emissions future. 

Also unveiled was the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst), a mid-size sports sedan that is set to go to market in 2026.

“There can be no luxury future without sustainability,” Simon Humphries, Lexus chief branding officer said.

Lexus unveiled the new LF-ZL concept at the JMS 2023

Photo by Toyota Motor Corp.

Despite the push for BEVs, Toyota’s main messaging at the JMS goes beyond electrification and into carbon neutrality. Sato had already mentioned this a few months ago with a pledge for the company to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by more than half by 2035, and become fully carbon neutral across the vehicle life cycle by 2050, but at the JMS, the commitment is made abundantly clearer.

It’s a tall order for the car giant, but it’s looking to rally all its stakeholders to its cause.

“Let me say once again that the future is something we all create together,” Sato said. “We want to create a better future. If we all act with this same inspiration and passion, the landscape is sure to change.”

This year’s edition of the JMS will see over 400 companies exhibiting from Thursday, October 26 to Sunday, November 5, 2023.