Toyota Abandons Plans For Electric FJ Cruiser, Crown EV

Exclusive: Toyota abandons plans for electric FJ Cruiser, Crown EV as it scrambles for EV reboot with Tesla as a benchmark.

FJ and Crown EV among 16 electric vehicles showcased last year and part of 30 it planned to launch into the by the end of this decade.

Review will allow Toyota to improve on electric car manufacturing processes as well as reduce the costs of future models.

Part of review includes new EV-only platform, as well as a successor to its EV-underpinning technology called e-TNGA.

New reports from Reuters indicate that Toyota has halted the development of an all-electric Crown and the FJ Compact Cruiser EV as the brand seek to improve on electric car manufacturing processes as well as reduce the costs of future models.

The FJ, an electric companion for the 4Runner, and Crown EV were among the 16 electric vehicles Toyota and Lexus showcased last year December and part of 30 new cars they planned to launch into the market by the end of this decade.

According to Reuters, Toyota is considering a reboot of its electric-car strategy to better compete in a booming electric car market. The review reportedly includes a new EV-only platform, as well as a successor to its EV-underpinning technology called e-TNGA, unveiled in 2019.

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Sources told Reuters that the review was triggered in part by the realisation by some Toyota engineers and executives that Toyota was losing the factory cost war to Tesla on EVs.

“In order to achieve carbon neutrality, Toyota’s own technology – as well as the work we are doing with a range of partners and suppliers – is essential,” Toyota said in response to questions from Reuters.

Tesla, the most valuable car brand, is reportedly Toyota’s benchmark. The two companies collaborated to produce a battery-electric version of the Toyota RAV4 SUV a decade ago.

Toyota later discontinued the electric RAV4 in 2014 and sold its stake in Tesla in 2017 after Toyota engineers believed Tesla’s technology was no threat, two sources told Reuters.

“They concluded back then there wasn’t much to learn,” one of the sources said.

Source Credit : Reuters

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