This will result in the addition of 10 new BEVs globally by 2026.
One of these will be a three-row SUV to be built in the United States.
A new unit within Toyota will manage the automaker’s electrification efforts.
In his first press conference after taking office, Toyota’s new CEO laid out a plan to increase its presence in the electric vehicle segment.
This new plan calls for the addition of 10 electric models by 2026 in order to achieve sales targets of 1.5 million EVs by that point with both the Toyota and Lexus brands.
In addition to this, the company will continue its “multipronged” approach by investing in hydrogen and hybrid vehicles. Speaking of which, the brand’s plug-in hybrid models could get a fully electric range of over 200 kilometres.
To oversee all of Toyota and Lexus’ electrification efforts, the automaker will set up a new unit led by a single person with full authority.
The first fully-electric vehicles to be launched here in the coming years will include a large three-row SUV arriving in 2025 that will be manufactured in the United States with batteries sourced from a new plant in North Carolina.
Since the automaker wants to tailor its vehicles to the markets they will be sold in, all of the new models won’t be available everywhere.
This is why in addition to the aforementioned SUV; North America will receive an electric pickup truck which is likely to be an EV version of the next Tacoma.
At the same time, Asia will focus on smaller and more efficient vehicles, such as the bZ3X sedan that was unveiled a while ago in China and two new models to be launched by 2024.
Developing markets will also be treated to two new electric models, including a small pickup truck, which will both become available from the end of this year.
Finally, Europe will see Toyota prioritize style and driving dynamics in its new models.
This last point could later be expanded to other world markets since the CEO said that the next generation of EVs from Toyota will feature more engaging driving dynamics and up to twice the range of current models due to more efficient batteries.
These next-gen vehicles will arrive after 2026, which means the goal of 1.5 million sales set by the automaker will have to be achieved with its current technology.
The automaker also used this press conference to tease one of the upcoming models, which appears to be a sleek Lexus sedan.
Source: Carscoops
