HV/EV launch plans by Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Daihatsu
HVs account for 40 percent of Toyota's sales in Japan in 1H 2012
2012/09/07
- Summary
- HVs account for 15% of Toyota's global sales and 40% of domestic sales in Japan in 1H 2012
- Toyota: HV/PHV/EV launches and plans
- Toyota: Increasing overseas production of HV/EV, planning start-to-finish integrated production in the US and China
- Toyota: Building a long-term strategic collaboration with BMW regarding environmental technologies
- HV/EV launch plans by Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries), Daihatsu and Mazda
Summary
Below is a summary of HV (hybrid electric vehicle), PHV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), and EV (electric vehicle) launch plans by Toyota and affiliated automakers (including Mazda licensed to use Toyota's HV technology).
Toyota's HV sales are increasing sharply thanks especially to the Prius α (Prius v/Prius+) that was released for sale in May 2011 and the Aqua (Prius c) released at the end of December. As a result, HVs now account for approximately 15 percent of Toyota's global sales and 40 percent of domestic sales in Japan in the first half of 2012 (as compared with 26.6 percent in 2011).
The Aqua's HV system is 42kg lighter than that of the third-generation Prius. According to Toyota, this represents evolution virtually equal to full remodeling of the hybrid system on the Prius. Toyota intends to further boost HV sales by developing smaller, lighter, more efficient and lower-cost hybrid systems.
Also, it is said that the next Prius model being launched in 2014 will feature the low center of gravity and emotional design of the NS4 concept exhibited at the 2012 Detroit motor show.
Exhibited by Toyota at the Geneva motor show in March 2012 as a model pursuing high efficiency was the B-segment FT-Bh Concept, powered by a two-cylinder 1.0-liter gasoline engine and a hybrid system with the curb vehicle weight of 786 kg and the fuel efficiency of 2.1 liter/100 km (47.6 km/L). Introduced as a future HV model likely to be prevailing in the latter half of the decade, the FT-Bh is very much meant for commercialization.
As for PHVs, Toyota launched the Prius PHV in January 2012. Toyota intends to promote PHV as an environmentally-conscious core technology, next to HV, and will increase the PHV lineup in the same way as the HV.
Regarding EVs, Toyota launched in 2012 the RAV4 EV, co-developed with Tesla Motors, in the state of California, United States. Lease sales of the iQ-based EV is planned to start in Japan, US and Europe.
Toyota will increase HV/EV production capacities outside of Japan to meet the growing demand in overseas markets. The company is currently producing HV/EV in eight countries other than Japan and an integrated local production including core components is slated to start in the United States and China in around 2015.
Fuji Heavy Industries is expected to launch HV versions of XV and Impreza G4 in 2013. Daihatsu has launched its HV called Altis (Toyota's Camry HV) under OEM arrangement with Toyota. Mazda will launch the Demio EV in October 2012 and an HV using the hybrid technology licensed by Toyota in 2013.
Related report: "Toyota increases production capacities in North America and emerging markets (May 2012)"
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