In a recent interview with Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Fujio Cho, chairman of Toyota and of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, revealed how lack of lack of subsidies and incentives for hybrids and extreme stress on vehicle safety rules has hampered Toyota’s effort to meet European Union’s vehicle carbon-dioxide emissions standards.



Cho, who was in Brussels recently for a meeting with senior European Commission officials about environment-related issues and carbon-dioxide emission targets, says the stress on safety “have made it difficult for us to improve fuel mileage”.



Europe is more inclined towards diesel cars. To succeed in a diesel-dominated market, Toyota needs proper government support. Unless the prices of the hybrids come down through proper government support Toyota’s success is doubtful.



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