Because it appears to shut the hole with Tesla and different EV tech leaders, Toyota is ready to unveil its first EV with a complicated self-driving system. Toyota’s three way partnership, GAC Toyota, confirmed it’s launching an EV with Tesla Full Self Drive-like capabilities subsequent 12 months in China.
Toyota to launch first “full” self-driving EV subsequent 12 months
GAC Toyota is a 50:50 three way partnership between Toyota Motor and China’s Guangzhou Vehicle Group (GAC).
The information was introduced this week on GAC Toyota’s social media because it appears to shut the know-how hole with rivals like Tesla, XPeng, BYD, NIO, and others within the area.
Toyota’s JV will launch the Bozhi 3X SUV subsequent 12 months as the primary EV mannequin to characteristic the self-driving tech. It’ll allow superior driver-assist options like driving on roads, avoiding obstacles, and parking (much like Tesla’s FSD).
The tech stems from a brand new partnership with Momenta, an autonomous car startup in Beijing. Toyota was among the many lead buyers throughout Momenta’s 2021 Collection C financing.
GAC Toyota can also be working with Huawei to make use of its tech in Toyota’s bZ3X electrical sedan, in line with CnEVPost. The bZ3X was revealed in October 2022 because the second EV to hitch its lineup behind the bZ4X.
The brand new tech is exclusive from Huawei’s in that Momenta and Huawei will present software program and {hardware} whereas the three work collectively to combine it.
Toyota additionally revealed it plans to launch an iron phosphate lithium battery by 2027 that might reduce manufacturing prices by 40% (in comparison with the present bZ4X).
After automobile gross sales dropped 22% in China through the first 4 months of 2024, Toyota is seeking to revamp the model with new, extra aggressive tech.
Toyota is taking one other web page from Tesla with plans to open the beforehand unique Lexus charging stations in Japan to different EVs. The Japanese auto large appears to fend off incoming competitors from low-cost Chinese language EV makers like BYD, which launched its third EV in Japan final week.
Supply: Reuters, GAC Toyota
