Toyota ending the ICE age, commits to hybrid-only Corolla and Yaris hatch and promises more to come

Toyota has continued the electrification of its Australian model line-up, announcing it will now only take orders for petrol-electric versions of its popular Corolla and Yaris hatchbacks.

And the dominant Australia new vehicle sales leader has predicted its entire line-up could  go hybrid.

The announcement was made at this week’s local launch of the C-HR compact SUV, which is also going hybrid in its second generation.

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The Camry mid-size passenger car and Uber favourite is also making the swap to hybrid only in Australia, as is the Yaris Cross mini SUV. Straight ICE engines will still be available with the Corolla sedan and GR hot hatch, as well as the Yaris GR.

Dropping the ICE powertrains means there are only two Yaris models, the $30,190 SX and $33,260 ZX (all prices plus on-road costs).

Once a no-frills budget buy, the Yaris has essentially doubled in price over the last five years.

There are three hybrid Corolla hatches – the $32,110 Ascent Sport, $35,260 SX and the $39,100 ZR.

“From today, we have told dealers to no longer take orders for petrol Yaris hatch and Corolla hatch,” Toyota Australia marketing and sales chief Sean Hanley told media at the C-HR launch.

“People are adjusted and know and believe in hybrid technology. In the fullness of time, we may convert all of our cars over to hybrid only.”

Hanley played down the impact the federal government’s incoming CO2 reduction standard had on the Corolla and Yaris hybrid decision. Toyota has focussed its concerns on the impact the NVES will have on large SUVs and utes.

Toyota has forecast 40 per cent of its total sales will be hybrid in 2024, up from 33 per cent in 2023.

The Corolla Cross compact SUV is tipped to go hybrid in 2024 and the next-generation RAV4 medium SUV when it launches in 2025.

The next-generation HiLux ute is also expected to include a hybrid powertrain when it arrives in 2025.

Toyota has also signalled it will soon add a petrol-electric hybrid alongside traditional diesel to its incoming Prado 250 4×4 wagon range.

Toyota Australia has committed to more than 50 per cent of sales being electrified in 2025 and having at least three battery electric vehicles on-sale by the end of 2026.

It launched its first BEV, the bZ4X medium SUV two weeks ago.