By LIU Zeran
Toyota has underlined its commitment to strengthening its EV efforts in China with plans to localize R&D.
Toyota’s research base in China, currently known as “Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd.,” has been reborn as an intelligent electromobility (IEM) R&D center with an input of US$689 million
Toyota will have engineers from its JVs with FAW, GAC and BYD work there together on a project-by-project basis alongside technical staff from Toyota subsidiaries Denso and Aisin.
Regarding intelligent technology, cockpits, autonomous driving, and safety features will be designed for Chinese conditions. Toyota will expand the local supply chain and work to reduce production costs.
Tatsuro Ueda, Toyota CEO in China, said he was dedicated to transforming work processes and mindsets. Toyota must offer competitive products that cater to Chinese customers and do it quickly.
In the first half of this year, Toyota’s global sales increased by 5.5 percent, but there was a 2.8-percent decline in China, where the company sold 880,000 vehicles. EV sales account for less than 1 percent of Toyota’s global sales, with nearly half of those sales in China.
