After 14 years, the blue Toyota badge bows out in favor of a blue dot for hybrids, PHEVs, hydrogen vehicles, and EVs
November 25, 2023 at 08:53
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Since 2009, Toyota has used a blue halo within its T badge on vehicles equipped with hybrid powertrains. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the new Camry does not sport the badge, despite being exclusively a hybrid. So what gives?
Well, a look at the back of the sedan provides a hint. Instead of blue highlights within the Toyota badge, the Camry gets a blue dot on the trunk next to the letters ‘HEV’ (which stands for hybrid electric vehicle). In an X post (formerly Twitter) from September, Toyota revealed that the new circle is intended to symbolize its commitment to “the happiness of people living on earth and [its desire] to pass it on to the next generation.”
What this means is that the new blue circle will replace the previous highlighted badge on Toyota’s new hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and fuel-cell electric vehicles, as confirmed by a spokesperson who spoke with Motor Trend. This change is starting with models like the Camry, Crown, and the automaker’s most famous hybrid, the Prius.
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Read: 2025 Toyota Camry Goes Hybrid-Only, Loses V6, Thinks America Still Wants Sensible Sedans
If you’ve noticed that other electrified vehicles, such as the RAV4, Venza, and Corolla, still have their blue Ts, it’s because they haven’t been updated recently enough to undergo the changeover. Soon enough, they’ll also feature the blue dot.
As mentioned earlier, the dot will also adorn the rear ends of other new energy vehicles, including EVs. The blue circle has already been spotted in teaser shots on the back of the upcoming bZ3X, accompanied by the letters “BEV” (for battery electric vehicle) next to it.
It’s all part of the automaker’s “Beyond Zero” marketing campaign, which involves using electrified vehicles to “reach beyond carbon neutrality with our products,” and to “make a positive impact on our planet and society.” Notably, Toyota wants to produce a variety of new energy vehicles, not just EVs, to achieve its environmental goals, so using the dot across many vehicles helps emphasize its strategy.
