Toyota Accuses Many Car Manufacturers Of Selling 'False Hybrids' Misleading Consumers

Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48V in the European market. (Photo: Carscoops)

JAKARTA Toyota has made sharp accusations against a number of car manufacturers that are considered misleading consumers by selling fake hybrid vehicles. As well as blurring true hybrid technology.

The Japanese manufacturer assessed that many other brands use the hybrid' label for the 48-volt mild-hybrid system, whereas technically the system does not meet the actual hybrid car definition, as quoted from Carscoops, Monday, October 6.

Toyota Australia's Head of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley, believes that such marketing practices can confuse the public. According to him, the 48-volt help does not represent hybrid drivers and sellers have a responsibility to ensure customers know the difference.

"I've seen hybrid technology be used in a different way in marketing in recent years," he said.

"Toyota will clearly explain what a hybrid system is for efficiency, what a hybrid system is for performance, and what a 48-volt relief system is. In our opinion, the 48-volt aid system is not a hybrid driver," Hanley continued.

Hanley explained that the true hybrid system combines gasoline engines and electric motors that allow vehicles to move with complete electric power for a certain distance. Meanwhile, the 48-volt system only functions as a small aid to support starters, alternators, or provide additional torques for a moment, without the ability to drive the car independently.

He emphasized that Toyota in Australia will not market 48-volt vehicles as hybrids. As a differentiator, the company uses the name V Active for the technology.

When you buy Toyota with a 48-volt help system like Hilux or Land Cruiser Prado, you don't buy a hybrid system. They're not hybrids, not at all," Hanley said on Drive.

However, interestingly, Toyota in Europe actually markets the Hilux Hybrid 48V, which uses the same technology. This shows that Toyota's naming strategy can be different depending on the sales area and market policies of each country.

Toyota's accusations sparked discussions in the automotive industry regarding limits on the definition of hybrids'. A number of other manufacturers, such as Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz, are known to market 48-volt mid-hybrid vehicles with hybrid labels in several global markets.

Toyota hopes that the term hybrid' is not misused and is still used according to its technological characteristics so that consumers are not mistaken in assessing vehicle efficiency and performance.