Toyota is the largest carmaker in France, producing more vehicles than any other automaker at its Onnaing plant in the north of the country. Located near Valenciennes, the Onnaing facility has been assembling the Yaris model since 2001 and now also produces the Yaris Cross and the Mazda 2 Hybrid, which is essentially a Yaris sold under the Mazda brand. In September 2026, the plant boosted its daily output to 1,250 vehicles, up from 1,120, to meet growing demand for the Yaris Cross. In 2025 alone, the site produced over 283,000 cars, setting a new record for the location. However, all these vehicles are currently hybrid models, and none are electric. This is not expected to change soon, as Toyota France’s CEO, Florian Aragon, stated in early August to Le Monde: the Onnaing plant will continue to focus on hybrid models. Toyota is taking a cautious approach toward fully electric vehicles, a stance it has maintained for several years. While the company has grown slightly more optimistic about electric propulsion, it still favors a "multi-technology approach" to reduce carbon emissions, as Aragon explained. This strategy considers customer behavior, existing infrastructure, and regional differences in mobility. The company does not want to rely on a single technology, and currently, its electric models are not produced in Europe. For example, the bZ4X and Urban Cruiser are sold in France but are designed and built elsewhere. The Kolin plant in the Czech Republic, which is set to begin electric vehicle production by 2028, will be the first European site to assemble a Toyota electric car. France, however, is experiencing a surge in electric vehicle sales. In August 2026, electric cars accounted for 38% of the market, a record driven by government incentives like social leasing, which was relaunched in July 2026. Rising fuel prices have also accelerated the shift toward zero-emission vehicles. A French supplier working with Toyota told Le Monde that while electric car sales have not grown as quickly as expected, recent economic factors are changing the landscape. He noted that while production transitions take time, the shift toward electric vehicles is an inevitable trend. Despite these developments, Toyota’s Onnaing plant remains focused on hybrid technology, which its vice president, Benoît Chambon, calls its main asset. In the first half of 2025, only 4.7% of Toyota’s European sales were fully electric models, compared to over 95% being hybrid or conventional vehicles. Meanwhile, the Kolin plant in the Czech Republic is expanding to accommodate electric vehicle production, with a 680 million euro investment, including 64 million from the Czech government for a battery assembly line. The new electric model, likely a version of the Compact Cruiser concept, is expected to be eligible for French government grants, which can reach up to 5,700 euros. Toyota has not yet officially announced the model, but it is anticipated to launch by 2028.