Toyota(TM) CNBC· CNBC·2025-05-21 01:00Core Viewpoint - Toyota Motor announced that the 2026 Toyota RAV4 will exclusively be offered as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model, marking the first time a traditional gas engine will be eliminated from this vehicle lineup [2][5]. Group 1: Product Offering and Market Strategy - The redesigned 2026 RAV4 will feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine integrated with hybrid technologies, including batteries and electric motors [2]. - The decision to offer the RAV4 exclusively as a hybrid is driven by its established popularity and increasing customer demand for hybrid models [5][6]. - Toyota's electrified vehicle sales in the U.S. accounted for 43.1% of the company's total sales in 2024, with RAV4 hybrids making up 44% of RAV4 sales last year [4][7]. Group 2: Sales Performance - RAV4 sales increased by 9.3% year-over-year to nearly 475,200 units sold, with RAV4 hybrids seeing a 29.3% increase [4]. - Sales of all-electric vehicles and hybrid models reached a record 20% of new car and truck sales in the U.S. last year, totaling 3.2 million electrified vehicles [5]. Group 3: Production and Tariff Challenges - The RAV4 faces challenges due to ongoing tariffs of 25% on imported vehicles and parts, with 84.3% of RAV4 models being imported [10][11]. - Toyota plans to increase RAV4 production at its Kentucky plant to mitigate tariff impacts, although specific plans have not been disclosed [11][12]. - The RAV4 has been among the fastest-selling vehicles in the automotive industry, with a recent days' supply of 29 days compared to the industry average of 66 days [13].