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New CEO Koji Sato Unveils Toyota’s Ambitious Plans for Electric Vehicles
On Wednesday, Toyota announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, coinciding with the appointment of new CEO Koji Sato. Acknowledging the dynamic market conditions, Toyota is intensifying its commitment to electric vehicle (EV) advancements. This includes the development of a dedicated platform and next-generation models, set to be unveiled in the upcoming autumn. Toyota, often criticized for its slower progress in fully embracing EV technology, aims to catch up with its industry counterparts.
Following the departure of Aki Toyoda, the long-standing leader and grandson of the company’s founder, earlier this year, expectations were high for the new CEO, Koji Sato, to instigate a positive change.
Despite adhering to a hybrid strategy encompassing hybrids and fuel cell vehicles, Sato has expressed his intention to expedite the development of Toyota’s fully electric vehicle technology. In a recent announcement, Sato unveiled his fresh vision for the company, which involves a significant enhancement of EV manufacturing capability and profitability.
Included in these plans are the introduction of 10 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and a target of 1.5 million EV sales annually by 2026, considered as a fundamental sales volume.
Toyota has previously hinted at the possibility of a dedicated EV platform to optimize efficiency and streamline production. However, Sato officially confirmed these intentions on Wednesday.
During Toyota’s fiscal earnings report, Sato announced that the company will allocate an additional 1 trillion yen ($7.5 billion) towards electric vehicle development and production by 2030.
Sato shared that the company’s forthcoming models, set to launch in 2026, will be constructed using three new platforms: the body and chassis, the electronic platform, and the software platform. Toyota aims to adopt a new vehicle packaging structure that is distinct to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) while optimizing efficiency.
Toyota’s specialized EV platform is predicted to double the range of future models by employing more efficient batteries. Moreover, the company introduced its in-house BEV development center, known as “BEV Factory,” with the goal of boosting Toyota’s competitiveness in the EV market. The primary aim of the BEV Factory is to streamline the manufacturing process to enhance efficiency and lower costs.
Toyota is demonstrating a growing awareness of the need to enhance its competitiveness in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Following the footsteps of Tesla and other automakers, Toyota is adopting a dedicated EV platform and focusing on manufacturing efficiency.
While Toyota has experienced increased battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in China, it still lags significantly behind its competitors in both the region and the global market.
The decision to release its next-generation EVs in 2026 might be seen as a lengthy wait, considering the anticipation surrounding several highly awaited models expected to debut before that time.
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