Reuters, citing “two people with knowledge of the work”, said Toyota is expected to outline adjustments to its electric vehicle (EV) strategy to key suppliers early next year.
It is alleged that the purpose of the exercise is to narrow the gap on price and performance with industry leaders Tesla and BYD.
The adjustments, to be communicated to suppliers, is said to take place over the next three years.
The motor manufacturing giant is planning to improve its competitiveness over the next decade by speeding up the adoption of performance-boosting technologies for its planned EV models.
But, according to the sources, the adjustments might cause delays to some of the EV development programmes originally planned for the period until 2026.
Reuters said that according to their sources, “the changes would be for the successors to Toyota's first two EVs for major markets, the bZ4X and the Lexus RZ, and are intended to close the gap with Tesla Inc on cost and performance”. According to analysts, Tesla made almost eight times the profit per vehicle as Toyota for the third quarter, partly because of its ability to simplify EV production and reduce costs.
According to Reuters, “Toyota has been reviewing a $30-billion, three-stage plan for developing and releasing EVs. It has suspended work on some battery-powered car projects announced last year, while a working group headed by former chief competitive officer, Shigeki Terashi, looks to improve cost performance and technology in the fast-growing market for EVs.”
Toyota's EV strategy has focussed on the rollout of cars like the bZ4X, the first of a string of battery electric vehicles under the series name "beyond zero".
The second stage of Toyota's plan covers the next several years when Toyota has models based on the e-TNGA platform under development, the company has told some suppliers. Adjustments to this phase are the changes likely to be outlined to suppliers early next year.
Now Terashi's group is allegedly considering whether to drop the three-year-old e-TNGA architecture, created by modifying a gasoline car platform, in favour of a dedicated EV platform.
E-TNGA was designed so EVs could be built on Toyota assembly lines with gasoline cars and hybrids, a compromise that limits the automaker's ability to deliver factory-floor innovations that Toyota engineers now recognise as key to Tesla's strength.
ZF Aftermarket has named Maic Dressen as Managing Director of ZF Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Sub-regional Head for Sub-Saharan Africa and the DomTom regions. He will lead the company’s South African operations and support its growth across the continent.
Volkswagen has marked 75 years of vehicle production and sales in South Africa with a gala event in Kariega attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, while also revealing the new Volkswagen Tengo, the third model to be built at the local plant. The Tengo will be produced for the South African and wider markets.
BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
When Volvo introduced the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric to South Africa in late 2021, the timing raised eyebrows. The country was enduring a severe power crisis, with loadshedding recorded on 200 days that year.
Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network on the N3 corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has confirmed plans to double charging capacity at both Charge hubs.
