Toyota  has announced that they will be unveiling a new all-electric SUV in the coming months. It’s the first model on the bespoke e-TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform. Toyota has yet to launch an all-electric vehicle outside of China. Further details will be announced in the coming months. The unnamed model will be similar in size to the actual RAV4 and Toyota said the SUV has been designed specifically for the European market and will be built at Toyota's dedicated zero-emissions factory in Japan. Toyota also claims that learnings from its hybrids will allow it to increase both range and battery lifespan.

Developed in conjunction with Subaru, the e-TNGA platform is designed to be highly adaptable and can be used for vehicles of different lengths and wheelbase. It can also be used for front, rear and four-wheel drive powertrains by allowing motors on both axles and with a wide range of battery capacities. Toyota also claims that the knowledge gained with its hybrids will allow it to increase both the range and the life of the battery. The first model based on e-TNGA has already been developed and is being prepared for production. Toyota is also investing in solid-state battery research.

In addition to the new electric SUV, Toyota will also introduce BEV versions of its Proace and Proace City vans next year. Last year, the company announced an acceleration of its electric vehicle plans and unveiled some concepts that it plans to convert to production vehicles in the coming years. In Europe, Toyota plans to launch more than 60 new or upgraded electrified models by 2025. By that date, it expects more than 70 percent of its sales to be of hybrid models.  It aims to be selling 5 million electrified cars per year by 2025 including in the Asian market.

Coming to the  Nepalese market, Toyota is now gearing towards the launch of the facelifted Fortuner next year. Also on the cards is the carmaker’s Hilux pick-up truck. The carmaker is also jointly developing a Creta-sized SUV for the Nepalese market in partnership with Maruti Suzuki. This model is expected to arrive in 2022. For more information about auto news in Nepal, please stay tune with us.