On stage at theAuto Shanghai expo this week, Toyota affirmed plans for the future of its electric vehicles, and it’s going in hard!
Motoring pressis this morningreportingthat Toyota has confirmed it will make 70 electrified vehicles by 2025, including 15 BEVs. Seven of these BEVs will be on the company’s newbZ platform.
Most notably, Toyota confirmed that it is going to bring hybrid and battery electric drivetrains to its trucks.
It didn’t say what models will be electrified though. There’s the possibility they’ll be entirely new models, or reworkings of existing vehicles — but Toyota, if you’re listening, please bring back theHilux.
The electric truck market is shaping up to be one of the most interesting automotive battles in recent years. As a legacy automaker, Toyota will be joining the likes ofGMC with its HummerandFord with its electric F150. But it’s also set to duke it out with a host of EV startups likeTesla with its Cybertruck,Rivian with its R1T and R1S, andLordstown with its Endurance.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
For a company that only really started teasing us with its plans for EVslate last year, this latest announcement demonstrates quite a change. Toyota has so far stuck close to hybrid technology, and been resistant to the shift to battery-based vehicles.
Toyota also debuted the bZ4X today, an all-electric SUV concept based on its e-TNGA BEV platform.
Toyota hasn’t shared much about the bZ4X yet. It hasn’t mentioned what size battery it might have, or what kind of range or power we can expect.
However, based oninformation we have about the e-TNGA platform, the car could be offered in two-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive versions. It could also have a variety of battery sizes too.
The company could also offersolid-state batteries, bringing a level of robustness and charging capabilities not seen in the competition — but that might be a pipe dream for now.
Jointly developed with Subaru, the company plans to launch the vehicle worldwide in 2022. Full US details of the vehicle will be shared at a later date, but Toyota hasn’t said when.
Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up?
Then you need the weekly SHIFT newsletter in your life.Click here to sign up.
Story byMatthew Beedham
Matthew is the editor of SHIFT. He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.Matthew is the editor of SHIFT. He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
