Toyota is Preparing to Produce a New Model in Europe

AUTO: Toyota has just announced its intention to produce a brand new 100% electric vehicle on European soil. And no, it’s not in Valenciennes.

Until now, Toyota advanced cautiously into the sector of electric cars, preferring to play the non-rechargeable hybrid card of which they are one of the most fervent defenders, and on hydrogen, to a lesser extent. However, regulatory pressure, the explosion of supply among competitors and the growing appetite of European motorists for zero-emission vehicles have pushed the brand to accelerate its progress and development into this sector. And it has decided to produce a model, as close as possible, on the continent, to reduce logistical constraints, limit its carbon footprint but also be more easily eligible for tax incentives from member countries, which favor models produced on the Old Continent. It was not specified which model it was but the Urban Cruiser, C-HR+, bZ4X and bZ4X Touring are in the running.

The cards are reshuffled

The real question will be whether this future model will succeed in the face of already fierce competition, dominated by Tesla, shaken up by Chinese brands but also firmly held by German manufacturers. Toyota puts forward serious arguments: a reputation built on foolproof reliability and mastery technological which has often made the difference. With its new electric range, the Japanese brand hopes to redistribute the cards. Contrary to initial predictions, the Valenciennes factory, in the North, which produces the Yaris and the Yaris Cross, was not selected. It is ultimately the Kolín site, in the Czech Republic, which will host the future model. This factory, formerly operated alongside the group PSA for the small Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107/108 city cars, today assembles the small Toyota Aygo X hybrid city car.