Toyota prepares new EV from China with Tesla-style technology
Japan (ANTARA) - Toyota is preparing to introduce a new electric vehicle (EV) for its luxury car division, Lexus, which will depart from a number of traditions long associated with the brand.
Lexus has traditionally produced most of its models in Japan, but the brand has not yet had a production base in China, as reported by Drive on Sunday (6/9).
Producing vehicles abroad is not entirely new for Lexus, as a number of vehicles for the North American market have been manufactured in the United States and Canada.
The move will mark the first time Lexus introduces new technology in a market outside Japan, before potentially bringing the system back for use in Japan.
The method could reduce the weight of pressed body components by up to 20 per cent. At the same time, the technology can increase body rigidity and reduce the vehicle’s overall weight, ultimately improving driving range.
Toyota first announced plans to adopt the modular construction method in 2023, with three main “gigacasting” components forming the car body.
The first Lexus model to be built on the “gigacasting” platform has not yet been announced. However, the decision to build a wholly Toyota-owned production base in China, rather than through a joint venture, places Lexus at the centre of an efficient and affordable EV production ecosystem.
Production is scheduled to begin at a newly completed plant in Shanghai in early 2027. In the initial phase, production capacity will be limited to around 1,000 vehicles per month before being increased to “tens of thousands” of vehicles per year by 2028.
The Toyota brand itself already offers a number of electrified models available exclusively in China, although so far these vehicles have been produced with partners through joint ventures.
Producing in China allows Toyota to grow the market share of its luxury car division through more competitively priced models. The vehicles will also be exempt from import duties and gain access to low-cost components and assembly processes, which have helped Chinese luxury car rivals outsell Lexus.