Rachel Culin considered herself a Toyota loyalist, one of millions of people who appreciated the company¡¯s reliable and fuel-efficient hybrids. But she recently bought an electric Chevrolet Bolt to replace her Toyota Prius because the Japanese automaker had been too slow when it came to selling electric vehicles.

¡°Where are the options for those people who love Toyota?¡± Culin, a resident of Mesa, Arizona, said. ¡°It¡¯s really sad.¡±

Once the leading brand for environmentally conscious car owners, Toyota has failed to keep up with changing consumer preferences and a push by governments around the world to greatly reduce the burning of fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change.