Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, finally announced an electric vehicle strategy which it says will result in 15 new battery-electric vehicles released by 2025.
The company unveiled a new concept EV at the Shanghai Motor show, called the BZ4X, which will serve as a starting point for other models with the BZ branding in the future (BZ stands for “Beyond Zero”).
The company did not reveal specifications or details of the BZ4X. However, it mentioned that the vehicle would be released in China and Japan later this year.
Toyota said it would release 70 new models including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and gas-electric hybrids by 2025. It also mentioned there will be a range of “diverse choices” for its customers.
These vehicles will be built using the flexible platform developed by Toyota in partnership with Subaru, a Japanese automaker.
The BZ4X will be built on this e-TNGA platform, which will enable several characteristics, including a steer-by-wire system, all-wheel drive, improved visibility, and a regenerative braking system that is common among other electric vehicles.
The BZ4X concept looks to be close to completion. According to Toyota, the interior of the car features a screen set back from the steering wheel in a way that will improve the driver’s visibility.
The central infotainment screen of the BZ4X appears to be floating above the dashboard and there are a number of physical buttons in the center console and on the steering wheel. This is proof that Toyota is not fully embracing the digital user experience like Tesla.
Toyota has however resisted fully embracing electric vehicles as the future of the auto industry, despite being an early adopter of battery-powered transportation.
