Toyota has revealed its plans for the future under another CEO, and it appears as though the organization is finally prioritizing electrification. In his announcement, new President and Chief Koji Sato said the automaker will make new electric vehicles novel to Toyota and Lexus, its luxury division.
He also said that the organization is developing its “next generation” battery electric vehicles, which will launch under the Lexus brand in 2026. It’s not exactly clear what “future” signifies, yet Sato said Toyota is dealing with “everything from the battery and platform to how a vehicle is built optimize for BEVs” while likewise extending its ongoing EV setup.
As Reuters notes, Toyota is getting fired for dragging with regards to embracing electric vehicle innovation and for its reluctance to move past its hybrid models, like the Prius. Sato explained during the press conference and answer session that the automaker’s slow EV adoption was generally brought about by communication issues.
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He also declared that the automaker will proceed with its “multi-pathway” and “omnidirectional” approach, and that implies it won’t drop its half-breed vehicles at any point shortly. However, Toyota expects to speed up its EV plans under its new management and to take on “a BEV-first outlook”
Toyota is now aiming for a 2026 timeline to debut “future” EVs under the Lexus brand. The organization says it will deal with “everything from the battery and platform to how a vehicle is built optimize for BEVs.”
“To convey attractive BEVs to more customers, we should smooth out the management of the vehicle, and―with a BEV-first mindset―we should radically impact the way we carry on with work, from assembling to sales and administration,” Toyota said in its announcement. “Lexus will lead this transformation.”
Beyond its work on EVs, Toyota will emphasize “intelligence” in later models, bringing programming and equipment to improve fuel efficiency and advance more secure driving and ride quality. It intends to cooperate with different dealers and applications to team up on these developments, though it hasn’t been revealed the way that precisely these drives will take structure.
This is coming after years of criticism over Toyota’s slow way to deal with electric vehicle reception, becoming complacent with productive gas and half and hybrid vehicles, and being diverted by the improvement of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Meanwhile, competitors are now broadening reason-assembled EV stages across their product offerings, similar to GM with Ultium.
Sato referenced Toyota would take an “omnidirectional methodology,” proposing it will ceaselessly keep its crossover business — with vehicles like the now-refreshed Prius — significant. “We want to stay in tune with clients globally and give different choices,” Sato said.
