Toyota to launch a mass-market electric vehicle in India by 2021
Toyota today announced a big step forward in its commitment towards EVs, stating that it plans to sell a million BEVs globally by 2025. The company will launch a range of EVs to help with this goal, and partner with other Japanese firms like Subaru and Suzuki. Most of these cars will be based on the electrified version of the TNGA platform termed e-TNGA but the firm is looking to cover the full EV spectrum, right from two-wheelers to large SUVs. These EVs will also be sold under the Lexus brand in the US and will include a Toyota electric sportscar.
Other vehicles that are a part of this plan are the Ultra-Compact BEV shown before the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, the i-Road three-wheeler, an i-Walk scooter an even an EV wheelchair. Further, Toyota is to tie-up with major battery suppliers like CATL, BYD, GS Yuasa and Toshiba. This is alongside its own in-house firm and its existing relationship with Panasonic.
Most of these cars will be sold in China with the rest in the US and Europe. But India also features in these plans. Toyota could sell its version of the WagonR EV that Maruti Suzuki is set to bring to India next year. Expected to be sold through NEXA dealerships, the prototypes of the WagonR EV have been spotted testing around the nation's capital, based on the Japan-spec WagonR which utilises the Heartect platform. It's expected to have a range of less than 200km on a single charge. It's also said that the WagonR EV will have fast charge capabilities, able to replenish its charge up to 80 per cent in 40 minutes.
The Toyota EV will come a year after that in 2021 once Toyota launches the first of its BEVs, first in China and then elsewhere. This could be something from its global Daihatsu stable, which has agreed to develop a mass-market EV with Suzuki globally.
Toyota and Suzuki have an understanding which includes the sharing of technologies and models in various markets. In India, the first outcome of this has been the Toyota Glanza, a rebadged Maruti Suzuki Baleno which has given the brand a presence in the competitive hatchback landscape in India.
Starts Rs 6.35 Lakhs
1197cc
Manual
90
113
22.94 Kmpl
Starts Rs 6.39 Lakhs
1197cc
Automatic
90
113
22.94 Kmpl
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