To establish a footprint in the largest EV market in the world, Toyota Motor recently introduced the first EV model it co-developed with BYD, a company based in China. As a result of the fast-expanding market, the Japanese manufacturer is allegedly considering reevaluating its EV initiatives.
Toyota unveiled the bZ3, the second vehicle in its battery-powered series, on Monday. According to the business, BYD Toyota EV Technology, a joint venture between the two automakers, and FAW Toyota Motor created the sedan specifically for the Chinese market.
According to a press release, the bZ3 will be powered by BYD’s Blade batteries and have a maximum cruise range of more than 600 kilometers on a single charge. To allay consumer concerns, Toyota claimed that it lessens battery degradation with a target of keeping 90% capacity after 10 years.
However, neither the cost nor the release date of the new model was provided by the corporation. More variants will only be introduced in China, the carmaker only stated. Earlier this year, it launched the bZ4X SUV, a BEV model that it co-developed with Subaru, all over the world.
At the end of the previous year, the Japanese automaker announced its intention to introduce 30 BEV cars by 2030. Nikkei Asia reported that Toyota would devote JPY2 trillion to the advancement of batteries. It announced plans to invest up to JPY730 billion at the end of August to increase battery production in Japan and the US. To ensure the supply, it would also collaborate closely with battery producers CATL and BYD.
As the largest automaker in the world, Toyota has advanced toward electrification more slowly than its competitors. Instead, it has put more of an emphasis on fuel cells and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) (FCEV).
In the fiscal year that ended in March, the business sold more than 2.7 million electrified vehicles, according to its FY2022 report. The sales volume, which includes HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs, represented 28.4% of Toyota’s overall sales.
According to Reuters, the manufacturer has established a task group within the organization to review and, if necessary, revise its EV policies. As a result, several EV projects have been put on hold, including the Toyota Compact Cruiser and the Crown’s battery-powered version.
According to sources who spoke to Reuters, Toyota is looking at modernizing or replacing the e-TNGA modular automotive platform to cut costs.
Additionally, it aims for improved EV thermal management to reduce battery pack size and weight, saving thousands of dollars per car. Reuters reports that the worldwide EV market is growing faster than Toyota had projected. Additionally, the Japanese corporation feels pressure from technological innovation led by Tesla and other EV manufacturers, which forces it to reevaluate its goals.
Additionally, the manufacturer stated on October 21 that the effects of the chip shortages will prevent it from achieving a manufacturing goal of 9.7 million annually for FY2023. Toyota has had to make many adjustments to its monthly output as a result of the problem in the second half of 2022.
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