Toyota announces its new BEV series, Toyota bZ, in establishment of a full line-up of electrified vehicles

In 2018, Toyota announced its intention to transform from an automotive company into a mobility company. Under the common understanding that everyone lives on the same planet, Toyota takes action from the perspective of “home planet,” above and beyond the concepts of “hometown” and “home country” that the automotive industry has long continued its business in. The current working generation is responsible for bequeathing this beautiful home to the next generation, as a place where people can live with peace of mind. Under this perspective, Toyota has the “human-centered” philosophy that technology should contribute to people’s happiness and health.

By utilizing the strength it has cultivated through “monozukuri (manufacturing)”, and by incorporating further technological innovations that expand the possibilities of mobility as it responds to CASE, Toyota seeks to provide services that make freedom of mobility available to all people. The company also aims through its businesses to contribute to the realization of SDGs; among the 17 SDGs, reducing CO2 emissions is a global issue and, in order to achieve this, it is vital that electrification―the “E” of “CASE”―is implemented on a global scale.

Today, countries around the world are declaring their goals in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve carbon neutrality in the automotive industry, it is indispensable to integrate energy policies such as renewable energy and charging infrastructure, with industrial policies such as vehicle purchase subsidies, supplier support, and battery recycling systems. It is also necessary to work in collaboration with various stakeholders including governments and industry associations. In the course of our global business activities, Toyota will promote electrification strategies that contribute to reducing CO2 emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of a vehicle, while consulting with governments on how to improve the environment for the promotion of electrification. In addition, we will review and disclose information to confirm our public policy engagement activities are consistent with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement by the end of this year, and will strive to provide enhanced information disclosure so that as many stakeholders as possible can understand our activities.

Toyota has a long history of CO2 reduction initiatives. In 1993, it launched the G21 project, which sought to propose cars that would be deemed necessary by the world in the 21st century. In 1997, the company launched the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, the Prius. Since then, based on the idea that “eco-friendly vehicles are only meaningful if they achieve widespread use and contribute to CO2 reductions,” or introduce sustainable vehicles practically, Toyota has undertaken to establish a full line-up of electrified vehicles―namely, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)―and thereby offer its customers diverse choices. Various factors such as the desired operating environment and cruising range for customers, and the status of development of recharging infrastructure differ according to country and region; it is crucial that, in line with these variables, Toyota offers powertrains that inspire customers to think, “this is easy to use,” and “I want to drive this” and, as a result, leads to reduction of CO2 emissions. Here are the results of Toyota’s approach in electrification.

• Total cumulative sales of electrified vehicles: over 17 million units (1997-February 2021)

  Total accumulative reductions in CO2 emissions as a result of electrified vehicles: around 140 million tons. (1997-2020)

• Worldwide electrified vehicle sales in 2020: 1.95 million units (23 percent of Toyota’s total sales, or about one in four vehicles, is electrified)
• Between 2010-2019, Toyota electrified vehicles have helped to reduce the average CO2 emission of new vehicles worldwide by approximately 22 percent Toyota’s line-up of electrified vehicles comprises 45 HEVs, four PHEVs, four BEVs, and two FCEVs―a total of 55 diverse models, ranging from passenger cars to commercial vehicles. (as of the end of 2020)

Going forward, Toyota will continue expanding its line-up to cater to the needs of its customers, and will expand the total number of electrified models to around 70 by 2025.

The Toyota bZ4X is an SUV BEV jointly developed with Toyota’s partner, Subaru. This new vehicle adopts the e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies; it takes advantage of the strength of Toyota, which boasts expertise in vehicle electrification, and Subaru, which possesses outstanding AWD technologies, and realizes driving performance that is both comfortable and enjoyable. The characteristics of the Toyota bZ4X are outlined below.

• Using a BEV-specific platform, the bZ4X combines a long wheelbase with a short overhang; this results both in a distinctive design, and in an interior space comparable to a D-segment sedan.
• A uniquely shaped steering wheel eliminates the need to change grip when steering, and also contributes to a spacious interior; the vehicle adopts a steer-by-wire system that provides a smooth driving feel aligned with the driver’s intentions.
• The low position of the instrument panel and the location of the meters above the steering wheel serve not only to enhance the vehicle’s sense of space, but also improve visibility and contribute to safe and secure driving.
• The bZ4X adopts a new AWD system jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru; it combines safe and pleasing driving performance―made possible by the unique responsiveness of electrified vehicles―with an impressive off-road performance.
• In addition to the use of regenerative energy systems, the vehicle also adopts a solar recharging system; this cleverly recharges the battery while stationary, and further enhances the unique environmental performance of a BEV. It also provides cruising range that ensures customers not to be inconvenienced in wintertime.

Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China; it hopes to begin worldwide sales of the model by the middle of 2022.