"Unprecedented demand" for the self-charging hybrid version of the world’s best-selling car, the Toyota Corolla, has eliminated the need for petrol options.
As a result Toyota Ireland says it is removing the 1.6 petrol saloon and 1.2 petrol hatchback from the Toyota lineup, while the Toyota's C-HR will also switch to hybrid only, with the 1.2 petrol dropped from its line-up.
The change comes 16 months after Toyota announced it was stopping all diesel car production.
Toyota Ireland CEO Steve Tormey says the majority of new customers have favoured the self-charging hybrid Corolla over petrol, effectively removing the need for the petrol model.
“As evidenced by the massive swing in preference towards self-charging hybrid over pure petrol-powered cars that we have seen with Corolla, I am confident if all other motoring manufacturers offered a full range of hybrids, Ireland’s environmental outlook would immediately be a lot rosier than it currently looks.
"Our self-charging hybrids, which are exclusively automatic, have many advantages, including excellent fuel efficiency, low NOX, and drive in zero emissions mode more than 60 per cent of the time, making them the ideal next step towards electrification for environmentally and cost-conscious drivers.
“Some might say this is a brave move given the perceived market dependency on pure fossil fuel powered cars, but for us the decision to double down on self-charging hybrid over petrol makes absolute sense. The numbers don’t lie, and we now know that if you offer highly desirable looking and high-performing self-charging hybrids they will win out over petrol every time. Next year, we predict that 92 per cent of our passenger car sales will be self-charging hybrid across all models.”
Last year's decision to move away from diesel models for passenger cars reflected Toyota Ireland’s ‘Built for a Better World’ brand promise, and it has worked as Toyota's market share has grown to 10.46 per cent to date in 2019.
The changes follow the success already seen from the RAV4 and Camry, which are exclusively available in hybrid since launching in early 2019. To date, more than 85 per cent of Toyota Corolla sales, and 90 per cent of C-HR sales in 2019 have been for the self-charging hybrid models.
From 2020, the only petrol variants to remain in the Toyota line-up will be the Yaris 1.0 petrol and the Aygo.
Available in hatchback, saloon and touring sport variants, prices for Corolla hybrid start from €24,380.
For more information on the Toyota Corolla, contact Tony Burke Motors, local Toyota dealer, 091 480123 or visit www.TonyBurkeMotors.ie
