Toyota's snapped back at the Government for spreading misinformation about the future of electric utes.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today claimed the car company plans to bring in EV utes within the next two years, saying in her morning interview rounds: "We're hoping in the next 12 to 24 months, the likes of Toyota are talking about bringing in EV utes". 

The Government yesterday announced a Clean Car Package, offering Kiwis discounts to buy electric from next month. 

But Toyota New Zealand CEO Neeraj Lala told Heather du Plessis-Allan there's no purely electric Hilux on the cards in the next 24 months.

"We've indicated that our pathway to low emissions is hybrid, which we were targeting for Hilux over that period.

"There may have been some confusion on whether electrified hybrids are pure backed electric alternatives as well, but we don't have a Hilux pure-EV in the works."

He says there are three major challenges in the transitionary period from petrol to electric vehicles: supply related to car batteries and semi conductors, the affordability of EVs, and safety. 

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