Electrification is Transforming the Automotive Marketplace

TORONTO, Ont. — Twenty three years ago, the world was introduced to its first electrified vehicle: the Toyota Prius.

As the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Prius was a trend setter. It stood alone in the category at its introduction, and full electric vehicles were little more than concepts. How times have changed.

On February 13th, as the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow opens for its Media Preview Day, Toyota Canada President and Chief Executive Officer, Larry Hutchinson will walk us through the electrified transformation happening in-market and the impact it has made on reducing our collective carbon footprint.

“In my 30-plus years at Toyota, I can’t remember a more transformative time for our industry,” says Mr. Hutchinson. “Over the past few years, vehicles have become much more automated and connected. But the biggest, and perhaps most significant, transformation has been in what we’ve been putting under the hood of our cars and trucks: electrified powertrains.”

Accompanied by Alex Wurz, a former Formula 1 diver, two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and current advisor to Toyota’s Gazoo Racing World Endurance Championship team, Mr. Hutchinson will help open the AutoShow’s Media Preview Day with a keynote address at 8 a.m. in the John Bassett Theatre (100 level, North Building, Metro Toronto Convention Centre).

The theme of the presentation mirrors that of the 2020 AutoShow — Transformative Times. With the Toyota RAV4 Prime and TS050 Hybrid race car (the #8 car that won the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race) on stage, Mr. Hutchinson will explore the electrification of the automobile, and delve into why — in a world concerned about carbon emissions — Toyota continues to participate in motorsports.

The electrification movement will be prominent in the exhibits for Toyota and Lexus at the AutoShow. Toyota will have the RAV4 Prime, Prius Prime and hydrogen-powered Mirai on display, as well as a new GR Supra Track Concept. Lexus will have six electrified Lexus vehicles, including the LF-30 Concept, on display.

Following the opening remarks by Toyota, the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada will present the Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility of the Year awards. The opening ceremony of the AutoShow’s Media Preview Day is presented by Canadian Black Book.

The Canadian International AutoShow takes place February 14th to 23rd, 2020, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.