By the middle of the next decade, cars that run on gasoline may be as common at dealerships as VCRs are at electronic shops today thanks to an ambitious policy under consideration by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration to buttress its decarbonization efforts.
But will Japan really be able to phase out sales of new petrol-fueled vehicles by the mid 2030s, as has been reported in local media? And how would such a plan — which would be the first time the country has put a time frame on ending sales of petrol vehicles — affect its auto sector, the pillar of the nation's industrial might?
On Thursday, the industry ministry held a closed panel meeting to discuss the shift to electrified vehicles, with some members pointing out the importance of setting a specific deadline, according to an industry ministry official who briefed reporters. Industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama has said that his ministry will compile a new plan by the end of this month.
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