Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda gestures to media during a press conference regarding battery EV strategies on Dec. 14, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it aims to sell 3.5 million electric vehicles globally a year in 2030 as it builds momentum in its push for attaining carbon neutrality.

       President Akio Toyoda said at a press briefing that the Japanese automaker will increase its investment in battery development to 2 trillion yen ($18 billion) from 1.5 trillion yen announced earlier and launch 30 EV models globally by 2030.

       "The situation around energy differs from region to region. Therefore, Toyota wants to meet the situation and needs of different countries and regions by offering various choices in terms of carbon neutrality," Toyoda said.

       The announcement comes as automakers worldwide are transitioning toward electrified cars to play their part in global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

       The company had said earlier that out of the 8 million electrified cars it aims to sell by 2030, 2 million would be battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

       Earlier this year, the world's largest carmaker by volume said it will introduce 15 electric vehicle models by 2025. It will begin selling in mid-2022 a new electric model Toyota bZ4X in Japan, North America and Europe.

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