Reuters reveals after pressure from Toyota chief, Japan emphasized support for hybrids

Reuters exclusively revealed that Toyota Motor Corp’s chief lobbied the Japanese government to make clear it supported hybrid vehicles as much as battery electrics or face losing the auto industry’s support. The lobbying by Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota and chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association industry group, comes as the automaker has faced increased scrutiny from green investors who say it has been slow to embrace battery-electric vehicles and pressed governments to slow a transition to them.