### Toyota Warns California's Electric Vehicle Mandates Are Unrealistic

Toyota Motor has voiced significant concerns over California's upcoming electric vehicle mandates, suggesting the targets set for the next few years are "impossible" to achieve. The regulations, driven by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), mandate that 35% of 2026 model-year vehicles, rolling out next year, be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).

According to J.D. Power, no states currently align with these stringent requirements. Only California, Colorado, and Washington have achieved at least 20% of retail sales for electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in 2023. In sharp contrast, states like New York, New Mexico, and Rhode Island lag far behind, highlighting the disparity in EV adoption rates.

Jack Hollis, Toyota Motor North America's Chief Operating Officer, expressed skepticism during a virtual roundtable, emphasizing the lack of demand for such vehicles. "I have not seen a forecast by anyone... government or private, anywhere that has told us that number is achievable. At this point, it looks impossible," Hollis stated.

This regulatory push is part of CARB's broader "Advanced Clean Cars II" initiative. California has aggressive plans to convert 100% of new vehicle sales to zero-emission models by 2035, a policy that 12 states and Washington, D.C. have adopted, though about half have deferred implementation until the 2027 model year.

Hollis warned that the unfolding scenario could restrict consumer choice, resulting in "unnatural acts" within the automotive sector. Some automakers, for instance, are adjusting their supply strategies to meet the compliance of EV-prevalent states by allocating a larger share of electrified models to those regions.

Furthermore, national EV/PHEV adoption stands at a mere 9% through October of this year, underscoring the challenge of meeting these regulatory demands.

Although CARB did not immediately comment, Hollis hopes for a collaborative resolution involving the federal government, the states, and the auto industry. He advocates for a unified national standard, a sentiment shared by many in the automotive industry. "Our hope would be is that California and [the Environmental Protection Agency] would match up, and it would be reduced down to something that is achievable," said Hollis. "Even if it's a push, even if it's a reach, but at this point, it's an impossible stage."

With continuing debates and potential legal challenges ahead, the path to electrifying America's roads appears rocky and fraught with contention.