--- title: "Toyota’s ‘Master Driver’ Akio Toyoda Doesn’t Believe in Electric Sports Cars" date: "2025-04-29" modified: "2025-04-29" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyotas-master-driver-akio-toyoda-doesnt-believe-in-electric-sports-cars" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" tags: - "concept" - "Electric Vehicle" - "sports car" - "Toyota" --- # Toyota’s ‘Master Driver’ Akio Toyoda Doesn’t Believe in Electric Sports Cars ![]() *Toyota's FT-Se concept from 2023 showed a vision of how an electric sports car from the brand could one day look. \Toyota\* If you're a fan of Toyota's recent take on affordable performance cars, former CEO and current chairman Akio Toyoda is the man you should thank. His role in developing the GR Corolla [earned him a special edition named for his race track alter ego](), and earned him the unofficial (but nonetheless critical) title of "master driver." In [a recent interview with *Automotive News*](), Toyoda says that as long as he retains that responsibility within [Toyota](), he will continue to advocate for sports cars that provide the same visceral sensations he loves. "There will always be people inside Toyota passionate about developing electric sports cars," Toyoda told the outlet. "But for me as the master driver, my definition of a sports car is something with the smell of gasoline and a noisy engine." That's one of the key reasons why Toyoda, an avid racer, has no interest in going wheel-to-wheel in an all-electric racing series. The other thing holding electric performance vehicles back is cost. "Toyota is a mass-production brand, so we also need to think about affordability, even with BEVs," he said. "Once Toyota has the capacity to offer affordable BEVs, then maybe that’s a moment when I as a master driver will be introducing a BEV sports car." ![]() *The rare Morizo Edition of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla had a retuned six-speed manual transmission, additional torque, and no backseat. It also came in this killer matte gray color. *Toyota** The same limitations that hold high-performance EVs back on the street cause even greater complications on the race track. Since electric race cars can't quickly refuel, the race becomes less about the driver and more about team logistics. "It’s not exciting. Because you won’t be able to go around the circuit for more than an hour," he said. "The kind of races I enter are mostly endurance races, so with the current BEVs, it’s not going to be a race of the cars. It’s a race of charging time or battery exchange or something," he added. Toyoda believes the company should continue to follow the path of least resistance when it comes to [reducing carbon emissions](), whether that means producing more hybrids, more EVs, or both. For now, though, he's content to stick with gasoline-powered performance machines and let the next generation tackle the electrification of fun. "The next master driver will have to take on that challenge," he said. "That’s their job." *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()