The 2025 Toyota Camry Signifies the Company’s Lack of Faith in an Electric Future
With the recent debut of the 2025 Toyota Camry, we can glimpse into the future of Toyota’s historic midsize sedan. The 2025 Camry has been unveiled as the next-gen car that looks forward while staying true to its indestructible roots. But with so many vehicles in the American marketplace pushing towards an EV-centric future, Camry lacks any support for an EV option. Here is everything you need to know about the brand-new 2025 Toyota Camry and what it means for the future of EVs at Toyota.
The 2025 Toyota Camry: A pure hybrid generation
Toyota recently revealed the 2025 Toyota Camry in a press release. In this release, Toyota explained that the 2025 Camry would be available exclusively with a hybrid powertrain. Regardless of trim level, there will be no gasoline-only option for the Camry. This comes with a redesigned body with a new design language similar to the groundbreaking Prius, alongside a high-tech interior. This aging Camry platform will also feature a redesigned suspension and braking system for next-generation comfort on the roads.
Alongside this comfort, some new safety features, like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, are all included with Toyota’s standard Safety Sense 3.0. Power output is around 225 horsepower out of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine in the front-wheel drive model. There will also be a 232 all-wheel-drive model as well. This Camry will also don the “Beyond Zero” badge. The designation is found on other vehicles like the Toyota bZ4X, signifying Toyota’s commitment to a carbon-neutral footprint.
What are Toyota’s thoughts on the future of EVs?
Surprisingly, this Camry will not come equipped with any EV option. This is a stark contrast to other vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Tesla Model 3, two heavyweight EVs in its class. According to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota isn’t dragging its feet when it comes to EV adoption. It simply believes that there is more than one way to create green vehicles. Other companies like Ford and GM seem adamant that the only way to produce a clean-running fleet of vehicles is to jump heavily into EVs. This has led to multiple vehicles experiencing heavy delays, like the much anticipated Chevy Silverado EV.
Toyota, with its focus on hybrid and plug-in technology, seems to believe the future of motoring will always consist of some non-electric fuel. This can also be seen with the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that is only available in select markets. This Mirai is continuing production despite the low amount of fuel stations available, which are mostly found in certain cities in California.
Other automakers are tempering their expectations for swift electrification
Tesla seems to be the only company that is 100% all-in on EVs. This is no surprise, the company is entirely based solely on EV technology. This aim has forced this company to be the very best from the start, and it has paid off. Other companies, however, seem to be pulling back when it comes to pushing EV technology. Mazda, quite infamously, ditched their struggling Mazda MX-30 to introduce the CX-90 plug-in hybrid. Dodge, on the other hand, unveiled their Hornet R/T compact crossover SUV. This SUV uses electric technology for performance reasons, using plug-in hybrid technology to give the Hornet fantastic acceleration.
While EVs are the future for many companies, other companies like Toyota view the future as a literal hybrid of different technologies coming together to make a complete lineup of vehicles. From traditional gas-powered vehicles to hybrid vehicles and fully electric vehicles, Toyota seems to believe that the future isn’t found in EVs alone.
