{"slug": "if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them", "title": "If Toyota Sells EVs, People Will Buy Them", "summary": "Toyota's plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales rose nearly 190 percent in July after the automaker expanded availability from 12 states to nationwide, according to new sales data. Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García said the sales prove consumers are ready to buy more efficient vehicles, urging Toyota to deliver compelling, affordable fully electric models at scale, noting the 2027 Highlander EV has been delayed.", "body_md": "# If Toyota Sells EVs, People Will Buy Them\n\n*Support CleanTechnica's work through*[a Substack subscription](https://cleantechnica.substack.com/subscribe),[on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/cleantechnica), or[on Stripe](https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/). Help us produce all of the[high-quality, original content we publish week after week](https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/14/10/)despite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles.**New Sales Data Shows Potential of Investment in More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles**\n\nNew sales data [shows](https://www.motor1.com/news/805201/toyota-hybrid-sales-are-up/) that Toyota’s plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales are increasing due to the automaker expanding availability of the PHEV models to dealers across the country.\n\nThe strong rise in Toyota’s hybrid sales this year can be attributed to the automaker expanding the scope of where they sold the models from 12 states to nationwide. Expanding nationwide, PHEV sales rose nearly 190 percent in July.\n\nToyota has historically [lagged](https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2026/06/toyota-should-leave-politics-behind-and-deliver-affordable-electric-vehicles) behind other major automakers in developing and bringing a competitive lineup of fully electric vehicles to market. While the company has built a strong position in hybrids, its lackluster approach to fully battery-electric vehicles has left consumers with fewer choices at a time when interest in cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars is growing.\n\n**In response to this new data, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García issued the following statement:**\n\n“Toyota’s own sales numbers are proving that consumers are ready to buy more efficient vehicles if and when they appear on the lot. Toyota has the technology, manufacturing capacity, and brand recognition to be a leader in electric vehicles. If Toyota goes all in on fully electric vehicles and delivers compelling, affordable models at scale, consumers will show up to buy them.\n\n“With gas prices putting pressure on household budgets, more fuel-efficient vehicles can offer drivers an opportunity to reduce the amount they spend at the pump. Toyota’s recent sales growth demonstrates that consumers are actively seeking those savings.\n\n“The question is, will Toyota actually deliver? In typical Toyota fashion, production for the 2027 Highlander EV has been [delayed](https://www.autoblog.com/news/toyotas-electric-highlander-has-been-pushed-back-to-next-year). Will Toyota finally use its enormous resources and brand name to meet consumer demand for EVs or continue to keep us waiting?”\n\n*Sign up for*\n\n[CleanTechnica's Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott's in-depth analyses and high level summaries](https://cleantechnica.substack.com/subscribe), sign up for[our daily newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/daily-newsletter), and[follow us on Google News](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFV05zWldGdWRHVmphRzVwWTJFdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ)!*Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast?*\n\n[Contact us here](https://cleantechnica.com/contact/).*Sign up for our daily newsletter for*\n\n[15 new cleantech stories a day](https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/daily-newsletter). Or sign up for[our weekly one on top stories of the week](https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/weekly-newsletter)if daily is too frequent.\n\n*CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy*\n\n[here](https://cleantechnica.com/cleantechnica-editorial-ethics/).[CleanTechnica's Comment Policy](https://cleantechnica.com/cleantechnica-comment-policy/)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them", "canonical_source": "https://cleantechnica.com/2026/08/19/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them/", "published_at": "2026-08-19 22:10:40+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-19 22:43:21.063672+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["autonomous-vehicles"], "entities": ["Toyota", "Sierra Club", "Katherine García", "Highlander EV"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/if-toyota-sells-evs-people-will-buy-them.jsonld"}}