Toyota’s local weather lobbying rating is the worst among all automakers, according to InfluenceMap’s latest report, while its 2030 EV manufacturing plans are ranked as the third most inadequate.
In the past year, yet another report highlights the alarming impact of Toyota on the environment.
Although Toyota consistently ranks low in InfluenceMap’s climate coverage engagement metrics, this year follows suit, with little change in its commitment to environmental transparency.
InfluenceMap regularly ranks automotive companies and industry associations according to the extent to which they lobby against climate policy objectives, primarily focused on hindering progress towards lowering emissions and mitigating global warming.
Rather than merely outlining automakers’ electric vehicle (EV) strategies, these rankings also assess each company’s efforts to counter government initiatives aimed at protecting citizens from air pollution.
Some lobbying efforts stem directly from automakers, while others arise from their collective membership in trade associations, which aggregate the interests of multiple corporations to amplify their lobbying influence.
InfluenceMap scrutinizes the actions of global commerce associations, assessing automotive manufacturers’ memberships, briefs filed on climate policy initiatives, and strategies for future production plans to rank them accordingly.
The data is categorized into “Group Rating” – measuring the group’s overall lobbying efforts, “Relationship Rating” assessing membership in commerce organizations and the effectiveness of their lobbying initiatives, “Engagement Depth” quantifying the company’s commitment to lobbying, and finally, its Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plans are considered as a whole.
Despite leading the checklist, Tesla earned only a “B” grade owing to its limited ability to engage users. While Tesla has traditionally supported proactive climate initiatives and collaborates with groups promoting positive climate action, its advocacy efforts are relatively modest compared to other organizations. This disparity may worsen following the departure of its policy head in April.
Automotive manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz have received praise for their relatively frequent and optimistic strikes. Few individuals achieved a satisfactory score, with mediocre ratings of C- or below awarded to all but one automaker across the board.
Japanese manufacturers consistently rank near the bottom in reliability surveys. The Japanese electric vehicle market has been slow to gain momentum, threatening the country’s ambitious goal of establishing a comprehensive national industry. While Nissan stands out among its Japanese peers, it still falls short of expectations.
Most automotive manufacturers are falling short on their manufacturing plans, with only three out of 15 companies surveyed meeting commitments that align with the World Energy Council’s ambitious target of a 66% electric vehicle market share by 2030? Achieving a global temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels requires this quantity to be effectively mitigated. According to current trends, forecasts predict that the industry is on track to predominantly manufacture electric vehicles (EVs), with a projected share of 53% by 2030.
While Toyota’s performance isn’t last in this category, its competitors Honda and Suzuki trail behind it. However, despite Toyota’s persistent and insidious influence in local climate policy, it is poised to retain its dubious distinction as the worst automaker on local climate issues for another year, perpetuating its ignominious streak.
To gain an additional layer of insight in the rankings, explore the comprehensive InfluenceMap report directly.
