It's impossible not to notice: Toyota has been in full catch-up mode regarding electric vehicles, and the exclamation point on its transformation from EV-sceptics to EV-enthusiasts came at the Tokyo Motor Show this week. Certainly, the Japanese giant has the means to compete in this rapidly growing sector as the automotive world undergoes a significant transformation.
Before stepping down as Toyota's head, Akio Toyoda, a known electric power skeptic, prioritized hybrid technologies. That all changes with the changing of the guard at the top last year. The past is the past. But it's clear that Toyota lags behind its competitors. While manufacturers like Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen have taken the lead, Toyota is far behind. Last year, Toyota sold just over 25,000 electric vehicles worldwide, an insignificant number for a corporation of its magnitude.
While the most eye-catching of these was undoubtedly the FT-Se sports concept, most talk since the reveals has centered around the EPU, an electric compact truck that takes aim at Ford's Maverick – with the crucial difference that it’s all-electric.