Toyota pulls back on DEI policies after backlash: report

Toyota Motor Corp. has joined the list of organisations in the United States that are refocusing their policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) following online backlash.

The company last week sent a memo to its 5,000 US employees and 1,500 dealers stating that it will "narrow our community activities to align with STEM education and workforce readiness," Bloomberg reported.

According to the report, the carmaker will also end its participation in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index and other corporate culture surveys.

The Corporate Equality Index is the "national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees."

DEI withdrawal at Toyota follows backlash

The move follows a social media campaign launched by anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck, who called for Toyota boycotts due to its support of LGBTQ events and initiatives.

A spokesperson from Toyota previously told Bloomberg that Starbuck's remarks had a "negligible" impact, and it only received questions from a "small population" of dealers and about 30 customer calls.

Toyota joins the list of organisations, such as Harley-Davidson and Tractor Supply, that are making changes to their DEI strategies following backlash online.

Harley-Davidson has also withdrawn from the HRC Foundation's Corporate Equality Index after getting called out by Starbuck on X.

Eric Bloem, a vice president at the HRC, said the "short-sighted decisions to abandon DEI initiatives will have a lasting, negative impact on business success in a future where more people than ever are identifying as LGBTQ,” according to Bloomberg.