Toyota pivots to electric Corolla and reconsiders physical dashboard controls

Toyota has announced that the next‑generation Corolla, its best‑selling model with 57 million units sold, will be offered in an electric version for the first time in its 60‑year history. The new Corolla will sit on a flexible platform capable of supporting pure‑battery, plug‑in hybrid, conventional hybrid and gasoline powertrains. In a televised interview, President Akio Toyoda acknowledged a “significant sense of crisis” at the company and warned, “I think we are losing to China,” highlighting the competitive pressure behind the move.

At the same time, Toyota is reviewing the extent of touchscreen controls in its vehicles. After customer feedback on the RAV4’s heavy reliance on digital interfaces, project manager Yoshinori Futonagane told Australian magazine *Drive* that the firm is “monitoring the requests of customers” and said, “If necessary, we will re‑introduce more physical switches.” He noted that Chinese buyers, previously seen as strong supporters of screen‑dominated cabins, are now asking for traditional knobs and buttons.

These parallel developments signal a broader strategic shift at Toyota, balancing electrification with a reassessment of in‑car user‑interface design.