Toyota to have 10 new BEVs in three years

Toyota aims to have 10 new battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2026, amounting to 1.5 million vehicles in annual sales.

That’s according to Toyota’s new leadership which includes president and chief executive Koji Sato.

He says Toyota plans to release next-generation BEVs “entirely different from those of today” which will double driving range by using batteries with far greater efficiency.

It will have a new special unit to develop next-generation BEVs, expected to launch in May.

“We will also transform manufacturing,” Sato adds, explaining Toyota will shift to more efficient lines, including autonomous inspections and unmanned transport powered by connected technology.

“We will completely transform the landscape of our production plants.

“From now on, we aim to transform into a mobility company.”

Toyota is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050 over the entire life cycle of its vehicles, Sato explains, adding the company will “thoroughly implement electrification, which we can do immediately”.

“We will strengthen sales of hybrid electric vehicles, including in emerging markets, and increase the number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle options, says Sato, adding Toyota will also accelerate hydrogen projects, especially for the mass production of commercial fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and the development of hydrogen engine technologies in motorsports.

“Furthermore, we will work with the energy industry to develop technologies for carbon-neutral fuels.”

Toyota aims to reduce average CO2 emissions for vehicles it sells worldwide by 33% by 2030 and by more than 50% by 2035 compared to 2019.

Sato reckons cars of the future will become more connected to society as they become more electrified, intelligent, and diversified.

Executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima explains the “Toyota Mobility Concept” centred on enhancing the value of the car, expanding new mobility and freedom of movement, and providing new services and energy solutions as part of the social system.

The three approaches are electrification, intelligence, and diversification, he adds.

Nakajima says that by increasing battery efficiency to extend the EV-mode driving range beyond 200km in its plug-in hybrids it will reposition PHEVs as “the practical BEV” and will work harder on developing this as another BEV option.

“We will work with business operators to promote FCEVs by starting with commercial vehicles such as medium- to heavy-duty trucks.

“Additionally, we have started basic research on hydrogen engines for heavy-duty commercial vehicles last year.

“For hybrid EVs, we will continue to improve our products with a focus on high quality and affordable prices, by accounting for local energy conditions and customer ease of use.

“This year, we will begin the public rollout of new services that connect cars to cities and infrastructure.

“Partnering with cities and public facilities, we will also expand our battery EV charging network, while contributing to more effective energy use. These efforts are already underway at Lexus.”

Nakajima says Toyota has developed an easy-lock system for securing wheelchairs with a single motion, with sales planned to start this year.

“We will also expand our efforts to new mobility businesses, such as our collaboration with Joby.”

Executive vice president Yoichi Miyazaki says that since the introduction of the first-generation Prius, a cumulative total of 22.5 million units have been sold, equivalent to a CO2 emissions reduction of about 7.5 million BEVs.

“In developed countries, in parallel with the preparation of next-generation battery EVs, with a focus on the bZ series and with further refined performance, we will greatly expand our product line-up.

“In the US, we will start the local production of a three-row SUV in 2025… equipped with batteries to be produced in North Carolina, and the production capacity will be increased.

“Also in China, in addition to the bZ4X and bZ3 which was announced last month, we will launch two models of locally developed battery EVs in 2024, fit to the local needs. And will continue to increase the number of models in the following years.

“In Asia and other emerging markets, we will make sure to respond to the growing demand for battery EVs. Specifically, by the end of the year, we will start local production of the battery EV pickup trucks and will also launch a small battery EV model.”