<
https://www.citizen.org/article/driving-denial-how-toyotas-unholy-alliance-with-climate-deniers-threatens-climate-progress/>
"Toyota is no longer the green darling that it was nearly three decades ago
when it introduced the Prius. The Japanese auto giant has spent the past
several years quietly building a powerful U.S. influence operation to weaken
climate policy. Among automakers, Toyota has become the largest funder of
climate deniers in Congress and the most ardent opponent of climate
protections. After the 2024 election, with Toyota’s climate-denying allies in
power, the company is poised to dismantle climate policy.
While Toyota bills itself as a climate leader, it has long failed to make the
needed transition to electric vehicles, instead investing in decades-old
gas-powered hybrid technology, as well as hydrogen-powered vehicles that have
failed in the marketplace. It is a risky strategy that has left Toyota
vulnerable to an influx of competitors who have leapfrogged the auto giant to
build the next generation of vehicles. Instead of innovating, Toyota has
bankrolled lobbyists and climate-hostile lawmakers to help it defeat EVs. Our
analysis found:
* Over the last three electoral cycles, Toyota has become the top auto industry
financier of climate deniers. It has helped to finance campaigns of 207
climate-denying congressional candidates, more than twice as many as Ford and
nearly 50% more than General Motors, the only other automakers with federal
political action committees (PACs).
* In the most recent electoral cycle, Toyota widened the gap, donating to more
than four times as many climate deniers as Ford and nearly twice as many as GM.
It contributed $271,000—nine times as much in funds as Ford’s $29,500 and over
twice as much as GM’s $128,500.
* In recent years, Toyota has emerged as the automaker most aggressively
opposed to EVs. With its allies entering power in the White House and Congress,
Toyota is poised to help dismantle climate policy that threatens its business
model."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
