With a consumption of 2.9 liters per 100 km
In the next two to three years, Toyota will release several new models that will be built on the BYD PHEV DM-i hybrid platform, as reported by Chinese media.
The Japanese auto giant will no longer use the THS (Toyota Hybrid System) platform. Toyota previously launched plug-in hybrid versions of the E+ Corrola, Levin and RAV4 in China without much success. Three new vehicles will use BYD's new hybrid platform.
«What is certain is that if Toyota switches to BYD's DM-i technology, the company will definitely carry out a new tuning and the driving experience will be different», – Caijing reports, citing sources at Toyota.
The fifth generation of BYD's hybrid platform was recently released, which allows cars to travel up to 2,000 km on a full tank and consume 2.9 liters per 100 km. The first such car from BYD will be released in China at the end of the month.
Toyota actively cooperates with BYD. In 2021, the two companies established a 50/50 joint venture, BYD Toyota Electric Vehicle Technology. In 2023, Toyota released its second all-electric car — Toyota bZ3 sedan, developed jointly with BYD, where BYD supplied LFP Blade battery packs and an electric motor.
In addition, Toyota has two major joint ventures in China with state-owned automakers: FAW-Toyota with First Automobile Works and GAC-Toyota with Guangzhou Automobile Group.
At the Beijing Auto Show last month, Toyota CTO Hiroki Nakajima said the company would start producing more plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).