Toyota EV Concepts: Sports Cars & Pickup Trucks

Toyota's Expanded EV Strategy: 30 Models by 2030

Toyota has announced an ambitious goal to introduce 30 electric vehicles (EVs) by the year 2030. This builds upon their previous commitment to offer 15 fully electric models by 2025.

A preview of future offerings was presented, showcasing a diverse array of EV concepts. These concepts provide insight into the direction Toyota is taking with its electric vehicle development.

New EV Concepts Unveiled

Among the revealed concepts is an electric pickup truck. This vehicle is positioned to potentially compete with established models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T. According to Autoblog, the Toyota Pickup EV bears a strong resemblance to the existing Toyota Tacoma.

Consequently, an electric variant may be incorporated into the next generation of the Tacoma pickup truck.

Beyond the pickup, Toyota showcased a Sports EV and a Compact Cruiser EV inspired by the iconic FJ Cruiser. The lineup also includes commercial vehicles, specifically the Micro Box and Mid Box models.

The self-driving e-Palette was also re-presented, having previously been utilized to transport athletes during the recent Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its use at the Paralympics was temporarily halted following an incident involving a visually impaired athlete.

Lexus Electric Concepts

Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, also presented a series of electric vehicle concepts. The Electrified Sport concept is projected to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in approximately two seconds, with an estimated range of 435 miles.

Additional Lexus concepts included the Electrified Sedan and the Electrified SUV, further demonstrating Lexus’s commitment to an all-electric future.

Investment and Sales Projections

Toyota is dedicating approximately $70 billion towards the electrification of its vehicle lineup. However, their mid-term sales forecasts for EVs are relatively moderate.

The company anticipates selling around 3.5 million EVs annually by 2030, representing roughly one-third of their current total vehicle sales volume.

In comparison, Volkswagen projects that half of its vehicle sales will be electric by 2030, with a majority of sales in key markets transitioning to EVs by 2040. Having initially led the way in hybrid vehicle technology, Toyota is now working to catch up to other automakers in the EV market.

Therefore, these more conservative projections are not unexpected.

Battery Production and Future Commitments

Toyota has recently announced plans to construct a $1.29 billion EV battery factory in North Carolina, with operations expected to begin by 2025. The company opted not to join other major automakers, including GM and Ford, in committing to a phase-out of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2040.

However, Lexus has declared its intention to exclusively sell EVs by the year 2035.

Source: This article was originally published on Engadget.