Ironically, Toyota already had some sketchy anti-EV reputation:

Toyota was famously one of the few automakers who sided with the Trump Administration in their legal fight against California trying to impose their own stricter emission regulations.

The Japanese didn’t stop there, and more recently, it warned the new US federal government against promoting all-electric vehicles.

From Electrek

Also, IIRC, it was Toyota and Honda that actively lobbied against CARB limits and indirectly led to EV1’s demise. (Can’t find the sources ATM)