In a striking warning, Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, highlighted the potential job losses that could accompany a shift to an all-electric vehicle (EV) future in Japan’s automotive sector. Speaking to reporters in Nagoya, he estimated that out of the 5.5 million workers in the Japanese automotive industry, many have dedicated their careers to traditional engine technologies, leaving their livelihoods at risk as the industry pivots to EVs.

"If electric vehicles simply become the only option, those employed in the engine-related sectors, including many suppliers, will face significant job losses," Toyoda stated. He expressed a personal preference for gasoline vehicles, reflecting on the rapid change facing the industry.

Toyota, renowned as the largest automaker in the world by sales, has been taking a more measured approach to the transition toward electric vehicles compared to its competitors. While global EV sales have recently slowed, Toyota’s emphasis on a diverse range of powertrains—such as hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles—has allowed it to maintain strong demand, especially in the U.S. market.

In January, Toyoda made headlines when he suggested that EVs would only represent about 30 percent of the global auto market in the foreseeable future, with hybrids and external combustion vehicles making up the remaining share. Importantly, he did not provide a specific timeline for this projection, which some analysts find controversial given the accelerating shift toward electrification worldwide.

These remarks came during a ceremony honoring his late father, Shoichiro Toyoda, who played a pivotal role in transforming the global automotive industry during the 1980s. The elder Toyoda led Toyota's remarkable ascent, challenging the American automakers and establishing iconic brands such as Lexus and the pioneering Prius hybrid.

As the auto industry grapples with the dual challenges of electrification and maintaining job security for its workforce, the debate over the future energy solutions for transportation continues to heat up. Will traditional roles in automotive engineering survive this wave of change, or is the industry destined for a radical transformation that could leave millions unemployed? Only time will tell as we watch this crucial sector evolve.