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Outlining Its Vision
The
4th Toyota Environmental Forum was held in Tokyo in June 2001 to
detail the developmental status of its advanced environment technology
vehicles and to outline its vision for the 21st century. The
forum’s focus was on the role of fuel cell and other hybrid
vehicles, as well as on Toyota’s ideas regarding fuel economy
and carbon dioxide emissions. The Toyota Environmental Forum series
was created in 1997 as a venue for discussing environmental issues
and for providing members of the media and environmental experts
a clearer picture of Toyota’s approach toward establishing
a mobile society more compatible with the environment.
The forum is a manifestation of the TOYOTA ECO-PROJECT, a multilateral
approach to developing the ultimate eco-car, which was initiated
by Toyota in 1997. Under the project, while continuing its already-ongoing
efforts to increase the availability of low-fuel consumption and
low-emissions vehicles, Toyota has established several milestones.
These include the launch of the Prius—the world’s first
mass-produced gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle, and the development
of Estima Hybrid minivan, featuring history’s first production
4WD hybrid system.
Future milestones include:
- By 2005, will meet 2010 emissions standards in all weight classifications
of gasoline-powered passenger vehicles; will aim at achieving ULEV
(ultra-low emissions vehicle) status (with emissions 75 percent
below the regulated levels for 2000) for the vast majority of passenger
vehicles in 2005.
- Will expand total production to an annual level of 300,000 units
in 2005, which is 10 times that of current production.
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