In line with its parent company’s recent strategic realignment to new-energy vehicles (NEV), Toyota South Africa recently laid its NRV cards for SA on the table.
Although the company maintains that internal combustion engines (ICE) still have a role to play, it said it will be shifting a large part of its focus to traditional hybrid vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) and other engine conversions over the next few years, as far as the SA market is concerned.
The biggest news is that Toyota will be launching a new, mildly hybrid Hilux and Fortuner in early 2024 consisting of the standard ICE combined with an integrated starter generator and 12V-48V battery.
The company will also be introducing the Toyota Crown to South Africa this year. This crossover Crown variant is powered by a 2.5-litre, parallel-hybrid drivetrain with an output in the neighbourhood of 170kW and a fuel consumption of under 5.0L/100km.
Another NEV addition to the local market from Toyota will be a hybrid version of the new Urban Cruiser.
It is also rumoured that the plug-in hybrid RAV4, Lexus NX and RX are on their way.
Toyota has said that owing to the current scarcity of electricity on the African continent, that BEVs won’t be a practical solution yet for local consumers.
Electric vehicles are older than many people realise. In the late nineteenth century, battery electric cars were common in cities because they were quiet, clean and easy to drive compared to petrol cars that needed hand cranking.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) announced the introduction of the Toyota Hiace PWD (Persons with Disabilities) model, a people-mover that puts accessibility at the heart of mobility.
One of the hot issues worldwide in the automotive business continues to be the drive towards new energy vehicles.
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Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.
Daniel Pink
Electric vehicles are older than many people realise. In the late nineteenth century, battery electric cars were common in cities because they were quiet, clean and easy to drive compared to petrol cars that needed hand cranking.
One of the hot issues worldwide in the automotive business continues to be the drive towards new energy vehicles.
BMW believes its fortunes in China will turn around with the introduction of its revolutionary Neue Klasse electric vehicle series, which took a major step forward this week with the launch of its first model.
