Toyota to continue to pursue ‘multi-pathway approach’ to electrification

Toyota announced a variety of new technologies that will support its transformation into a mobility company. Hiroki Nakajima, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, explained Toyota’s technology strategy and the direction of future car manufacturing at a technical briefing session. In addition, he spoke on specific and diverse technologies, including concepts under development, which will help achieve the vision and policies that have been communicated so far. Also speaking were Takero Kato, who has been appointed president of the newly established BEV Factory, and Mitsumasa Yamagata, who is scheduled to be appointed president of the Hydrogen Factory to be launched in July. They elaborated on their respective strategies for the battery EV and hydrogen businesses. “In the area of electrification, we will continue to pursue a “multi-pathway approach,” including the introduction of optimal powertrains for each region,” Nakajima said. “In the area of intelligence, in addition to vehicles and services, we will also promote initiatives to expand our connection with society, such as Woven City. We will also continue to diversify our business by expanding our scope from “cars” to “society” to include freedom of mobility and diverse energy options for all. To promote these three themes technologically, we have been shifting resources to Advanced Development fields and actively investing in future-oriented areas since 2016, when the company system was inaugurated. As of March 2023, we have shifted more than half of our R&D staff and approximately half of our R&D expenses to Advanced Development fields while increasing the total amount. We will further accelerate this trend in the future.”