Japanese legacy automakers Toyota and Suzuki have started the joint development of the bZ small electric SUV’s production model, local auto publication Best Car reports.
Toyota’s decision to tap Suzuki for its small car production expertise is unsurprising, considering they already established strong ties with mutual car rebadging and technology sharing.
What’s curretly known about the bZ?
The Toyota bZ is the smallest model in the company’s “Beyond Zero” portfolio, which is now under co-development with another Japanese legacy automaker.
Suzuki is certainly not a company to turn to when it comes to electric vehicles, considering that it is also just in the transition phase. However, it has great expertise in small car development, which may aid Toyota in its bZ project.
The report suggests that the small Toyota e-crossover will use the e-TNGA platform like the bZ4X electric SUV. It will have an energy consumption of 125Wh/km.
The partners expect to complete the development and launch the model as early as 2025.
In hindsight, Toyota initially introduced the bZ EV at a briefing session in December 2021 with its 15 other EV concepts, Electrek noted.
Toyota and Suzuki partnership
Toyota and Suzuki expanded and solidified their strategic partnership in compact EV development for the Indian market in 2022. According to the press release, they initially formed their long-standing partnership in 2017.
In May, they unveiled their co-developed new mini-commercial e-van for the first time. They also collaborated in the development of a new EV architecture for a series of mini e-vans that will join the upcoming Japan Mobility Show on October 26.
Toyota’s electrification strategy
Toyota recently disclosed some of the most crucial parts of its electrification strategy at a technology workshop in June, such as follows:
- next-gen EV batteries
- enhanced design method
- manufacturing upgrades
Apart from that, it announced plans to develop new EVs with an almost 500-mile range with advanced battery technology in 2026.
In September, it revealed its planned EV manufacturing line that features innovative technologies like Giga casting machines, self-propelled assembly lines, and robots for transporting assembled units.
All these efforts are crucial for the company to hit its production target of 600,000 units by 2025, up threefold from just 190,000 units estimated in 2024.
The Japanese automaker also aims to hit a total sales of 1.5 million EVs with ten new models by 2026, including compact cars, SUVs, crossovers, and commercial and luxury EVs.
See Also:
- Suzuki to seeks Toyota’s expertise for EV portfolio in India
- Toyota plans to accelerate electric car production to 600,000+ units in 2025, report claims
- Lexus to usher Toyota’s EV development while still preserving hybrid technology
- Toyota introduces advanced EV production line in Japan
- Toyota reveals hydrogen-powered Hilux prototype with estimated 365 mile-range
Toyota has yet to announce the final specifications of the fully electric bZ, further hyping customer interest. It will apparently advance as Toyota’s cheapest EV model, potentially shaking up the international market.
