Akio Toyoda introduces 16 new BEVs at global press conference. Source: TMC
Toyota Motor Corporation has announced a dramatic scale-up of its battery electric vehicle plans, unveiling 16 new BEV models on Wednesday and setting a new BEV sales target of 3.5 million a year by 2030 – a whopping 75 per cent increase in ambition.
In an event in Tokyo on Wednesday, the Japanese automotive giant announced investments totalling almost $A100 billion (8 trillion yen) in the shift to zero carbon vehicles out to 2030, including a “full line-up” of affordable mass-production models.
The 16 new BEVs unveiled at the Megaweb showcase included five Toyota “bZ” (beyond Zero) vehicles, one of which – the bZ4X – is set for a global launch in 2022, including in Australia, with the timing for the Australian market to be confirmed.
Also unveiled were seven “lifestyle” battery electric models including commercial vehicles, and four Lexus models.
The five bZ vehicles included the afore-mentioned bZ4X; a mid-size SUV (with styling that represents “a new era for BEVs”); a small compact size SUV geared to the Europe and Japan markets; a mid-size, entry-level sedan and; a large SUV with the capacity to add third-row seats.
Toyota said roughly one-quarter of the newly announced investment funds – 2 trillion yen – would be dedicated to accelerating the development of more-advanced, high-quality, and cheaper batteries.
Another major chunk of the spending would go towards battery EVs, with the 16 new models unveiled at the Tokyo event said to be among 30 new BEVs Toyota plans to roll out by 2030, including passenger-cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles.
“We will not only add battery EV options to existing vehicle models but will also offer a full line-up of reasonably priced mass-production models, such as the bZ series, to meet the needs of all kinds of customers,” said Toyota president Akio Toyoda on Wednesday.
“We can position batteries and electric motors to bring more freedom to battery EVs. This freedom will allow us to be more attuned to our customers, such as by meeting the various needs of different regions, the various lifestyles of our customers, and, when it comes to commercial vehicles, everything from long-distance transport to last-mile delivery.”
The new BEVs, and ramped up plans for investment and produciton, offer the first clear sign that Toyota is fully embracing the shift to all-electric vehicles, having pioneered self-charging hybrid technology with its Prius back in the late 1990s, only to stall at that point on the road to full electrification.
Even now, the automaker appears reluctant to leave this legacy behind, with half of the investment funds announced on Wednesday said to be dedicated to hybrid-electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid-electric (PHEV), as well as fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
To Toyota, however, this legacy represents more than 30 years of experience in power efficiency – refining the control of batteries, electric motors and the amount of energy a vehicle needs to run.
And the inclusion of a range of hybrid models, no doubt including the new iteration of the Prius that Toyota has hinted at, is being framed as a nod to the vastly differing levels of BEV uptake and market readiness around the globe – not least, Australia.
“Toyota is committed to providing a diversified range of carbon-neutral options to meet whatever might be the needs and situations in every country and region. It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose,” said Toyoda.
In his own comments on the new plans, Toyota Australia president and CEO Matthew Callachor reiterated the importance of having a diverse approach to electrification.
“We are absolutely committed to providing our customers with a range of technologies that will help them on their journey to zero emissions based on their individual circumstances, ensuring we leave no-one behind,” he said.
“Importantly, Toyota is not limited to a single technical solution because Australians have vastly different motoring needs, with locations from inner cities to suburbs, regional and rural areas and outback Australia.
“Australians are already buying Toyota hybrid electric vehicles in record numbers, which is significantly reducing the amount of carbon emissions. This demonstrates their support for a cleaner, more sustainable future and affordable, practical options.
“We have also embraced fuel-cell electric vehicles with the second-generation Mirai, supported by the new Toyota Hydrogen Centre in Melbourne, and we have announced plans to introduce our first battery EV in Australia, the bZ4X SUV.
“All of this adds to our excitement and anticipation around the latest investment Toyota is making in BEVs and our ongoing commitment to sustainable motoring solutions.”
Keyword: Toyota joins electric race with 16 new BEVs and massive boost to sales target