Toyota Archives

First impressions of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (video)

Toyota hybrids aren’t new in Malaysia and although the early ones were not sold here, there was a short period about 10 years ago when UMW Toyota Motor imported the third generation of the Prius (the first mass-produced hybrid car in the world) as well as the smaller Prius c and also the Lexus CT200h. During that period, the government had allowed hybrids and EVs to be sold duty-free, so they were priced attractively. After the government stopped the duty exemption, the prices went up again due to high import duties as well as the higher cost of hybrids, and demand for hybrids fell.

Now, as there is an increasing need to address climate change, especially global warming, carmakers like Toyota are using various approaches to ensure that ‘no customer is left behind‘. Toyota recognises that different countries and different regions may be at different stages of development with regards to the infrastructure to support electrified vehicles. In the more advanced regions like Europe, Japan and North America as well as China, the network of recharging stations is extensive so owners of electric vehicles can easily find a place to recharge their vehicle.

In Malaysia, while the government has just started to give support to promoting fully electric vehicles, the infrastructure is not yet developed enough. There are only around 400 recharging stations in the country at this time and most are are the bigger cities and towns. In view of this, UMW Toyota Motor has taken the position that hybrids are a better approach for now as they do not require the infrastructure since they are self-charging. And besides, there are around 3,700 petrol stations all over the country so refuelling is easy enough.

Owners of hybrid vehicles can travel as far as those with vehicles using petrol or diesel combustion engines, and have no fear of running out of ‘fuel’ in the battery pack. The hybrid system thus offers the benefits of electric drive without the issues of recharging and ‘range anxiety’ where the motorist has to worry if he or she can find a place to recharge – not to mention the fact that recharging is not as fast as refuelling petrol.

To increase the usage of hybrids, UMW Toyota Motor has therefore decided to assemble some models in Malaysia at its own plant. The first of these is the Corolla Cross Hybrid which will be launched this week with a price of around RM137,000. It is the first Toyota hybrid model assembled in Malaysia and also the first model with the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) that is assembled locally. Besides the 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, there is also a separate warranty on the battery pack that is 8 years long (with the option of extending to 10 years). Unlike other battery warranties, the warranty for the Corolla Cross Hybrid covers a few additional hybrid-related components as well. So those who have had concerns about the high cost of replacement if there is a problem can have peace of mind.

We’ve driven the Corolla Cross Hybrid from the Klang Valley to Ipoh and then Penang and back and we have first impressions to share with you in this video.

To know more about the Corolla Cross Hybrid, visit www.toyota.com.my.

Toyota overtook General Motors in 2021 to be No.1 carmaker in the USA

General Motors (GM) was the market leader in the US market since 1931 but last year, its place was taken not by Ford, Chrysler or even Tesla but by a foreign brand – Toyota. The Japanese carmaker reported sales of 2.332 million vehicles in 2021, beating the 2.218 million units that GM announced the same day. A year earlier, GM had still held No.1 spot with 2.55 million units while Toyota did 2.11 million units, and Ford reported 2.04 million units.

Understandably, Toyota has not played up on its ascent to No.1 position – the first foreign carmaker to do so – since it can be a sensitive issue among Americans. Although it imports many vehicles, it also has huge factories in America that manufacture a number of models there, so they are as American as those from the Big Three with substantial local sourcing of parts as well, not to mention being made by American workers.

But Toyota, like other Japanese carmakers, has been through periods of consumer resentment for their products and at one time, were even forced to voluntarily limit exports from Japan in the 1980s. Starting with a limit of 1.68 million cars (total for all makes) in 1981, the voluntary export restraint brought on by US political pressure remained for some 9 years. While it relieved some pressure on the American carmakers, it also resulted in foreign carmakers setting up factories in America so they could build their cars there, behind the ‘barrier’ and unrestricted by quotas.

The Crown was the first Toyota to appear in the USA in 1958. The carmaker established its first operations in California, from where it would spread across the country and then begin setting up factories to make its cars there as well. 63 years later, it has become the No.1 carmaker in the country, displacing GM which held the title for 31 years.

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the whole auto industry, there were also serious supply chain issues and more disrupting, a shortage of semiconductors for the many electronic systems in today’s motor vehicles. Every manufacturer was affected but some, like Toyota, had managed to plan well, which the Japanese are good at. Lessons learnt from the tsunami/earthquake disaster in Japan in 2011 also helped Toyota to have good management of its supply chain and to ensure sufficient buffer stocks for any major disruption.

No plans to boast about title
Toyota doesn’t plan to use its achievement in promotions and instead highlights other sales achievements in 2021 (in the US market) like selling the most electrified vehicles for the 22^nd consecutive year, being the No.1 retail brand (which excludes leasing and fleet sales) for the 10^th consecutive year, No. 1 in passenger car market share for 10th consecutive year, and the bestselling models in the passenger car category (Camry), midsize SUV category (Highlander), SUV category (RAV4) and small van category (Sienna).

The Honda Accord was the first foreign model to become the No.1 passenger car sold in America in 1989. But the Camry has taken the position most years since 1994, and has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years. The success of the model was, in part, due to the refusal of the top guys at Toyota USA to take the model designed in Japan which was too conservative. With the support of the Toyodas, they managed to get the chief engineer to come up with a completely different design which, in some ways, mirrored the Lexus LS400 that had become a benchmark in the US premium luxury class from 1989.

While the Honda Accord was the first foreign model to be the bestselling car in America in 1989, it’s been the Toyota Camry (1994 model shown below) which has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years.

The RAV4 is also another great success story for Toyota in America. It appeared at just the right time as Americans had a growing love for SUVs. Small and as easy to drive as a passenger car, it was ideal for the transition from a passenger car to SUV. It virtually created a new category overnight which would influence the rest of the industry to start following. Three years after the RAV4 appeared, Lexus also did a similar thing in the premium segment with the RX300.

*The RAV4 created a new market segment almost overnight when it appeared in 1995. Since then, it has been a top-seller in its class.*

Electrified models fuel sales
In recent times, Toyota’s growth has been fuelled by electrified vehicles, which it has been selling since the late 1980s when it introduced the Prius as the world’s first mass-produced vehicles with a hybrid powertrain. Since then, the range of hybrid models has expanded and it has even started selling a fuel-cell electric vehicle called the Mirai. Last year, electrified models accounted for about 25% of the total vehicles Toyota sold, up 73.2% in volume from a year before.

The Prius was the first mass-produced vehicle in the world with a hybrid powertrain when it was launched in 1989. Since then, Toyota has expanded its range of electrified models with hybrid powertrains and the picture below shows the models sold in the USA in 2013.

The total industry volume was just under 15 million vehicles in 2021 and 2022 is expected to see growth. Some forecasts put it at just over 15 million, but Toyota is more optimistic and thinks it could reach 16.5 million units, of which it is aiming to contribute 2.4 million. Whether GM will regain its crown remains to be seen although, like Ford long ago, the carmaker realizes that it is not much point chasing a No.1 title at the expense of profitability. Toyota somehow has managed to grab the No.1 position while still remaining profitable, though, but the Japanese are always conscious of a rival overtaking them so they never stop looking in the mirror.

Toyota’s C+ Pod costs RM60,000 – is that low enough to attract Malaysians to buy an EV?

From this month onwards till the end of 2023, electric vehicles (EVs) imported to Malaysia will be exempted from all taxes and excise duties and even roadtax. This applies only to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and not hybrids, for which the government provides other incentives for those which are assembled locally. Companies which decided to also assemble BEVs will get the full tax exemptions up till 2025.

To Malaysians, always frustrated by the high duty structure that makes cars expensive, the thought of duty-free cars gives them the idea that they can get cars much cheaper. However, BEVs are not cheap anywhere in the world if they are the type that are equivalent of the small and medium sedan or SUVs with combustion engines. They cost more and governments offer various incentives to reduce their prices for buyers so that adoption is faster.

If volumes can go up quickly, then production costs can come down and they can be sold more cheaply. This has happened in China where, since 2009, the government has offered subsidies to buyers of BEVs and the sales of such vehicles has grown to almost 5 million units a year. The volume is considered high enough and the subsidies will stop after this year.

Because of the sudden announcement only in October last year, plans to import vehicles have had to be put in place in the past few months and some companies have indicated they will be adding BEVs to their range later this year. Contrary to what those in the government may think, vehicles cannot be supplied right away. Orders have to be placed and factories have to slot in the orders and if demand is high from other markets, then it may take longer to get the vehicles. So many have indicated that they will start selling from the second half of this year, perhaps towards the last quarter.

*The Hyundai Kona Electric is the first BEV which has a price officially announced in Malaysia and it costs between RM150,000 to RM200,000 – duty-free.*

The prices indicated are not exactly low and many seem to be RM150,000 upwards – even with no taxes imposed. That sort of price level does not put BEVs within the reach of the masses which means that the volumes will not grow fast like in China and other markets. Not being able to reach a high volume will also slow the pace of infrastructure development as those who spend on it will see returns being slow.

As mentioned earlier, BEVs are expensive due to the technology which is still young compared to the technologies for combustion engines which have been developed and used for over 100 years. The ones that cost RM150,000 upwards are the ‘conventional’ type but in places like Japan and Europe, there are also smaller BEVs that cost much less though they can only seat two.

One such model is Toyota’s C⁺ Pod, an ultra-compact BEV which costs around RM60,000 in Japan. It went on sale in 2021 but only to corporate customers and government agencies. However, last month, Toyota announced that it would also make the C⁺ Pod available to the general public. The cars will be offered via lease contracts from Toyota dealerships

The C⁺ Pod is classified as a kei car, a category of minivehicles in Japan. It’s just 2.49 metres long and 1.29 metres wide; in comparison, the old Perodua Kancil was 3.4 metres long and 1.4 metres wide and could accommodate 4 persons. Although it has a light powertrain, the 9 kWh battery pack does add weight and makes the C⁺ Pod as heavy as a Kancil (690 kgs).

The small electric motor is positioned at the rear and can generate up to 9.2 kW with 56 Nm of torque. With the typical characteristic of an electric motor which delivers maximum torque from start-up, the little C⁺ Pod has good acceleration. However, it is clearly intended for city use and has a range claimed to be up to 150 kms.

The recharging infrastructure is well developed in Japan (almost 10,800 points nationwide) so owners can conveniently top-up the battery pack almost anywhere (though it will take 5 to`16 hours if the battery pack is completely empty).

Additionally, the C⁺ Pod is designed to be a mobile power supply system which can provide electricity in disaster areas. It’s an idea which developed after the big tsunami and earthquake in East Japan as there was urgent need for power supply by rescuers. There are sockets on the car to connect to and power can be supplied for up to about 10 hours, depending on conditions.

The cabin is like a car’s, with a simple layout that maximises use of the 1100 mm wide space, an important consideration since it is such as small vehicle. The exterior panels are made of plastic to keep weight down. But Toyota has ensured that safety standards (for this vehicle category) are met and there is a structure that efficiently disperses and absorbs impact energy across multiple components. This protects the occupants from serious injuries in the event of frontal, side or rear impacts. At the same time, the structure is also designed to reduce pedestrian injury.

To help the driver avoid accidents, there is also a Pre-collision Safety System which can detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. An Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Parking Support Brakes (Stationary Objects) is also included to help avoid collisions, or mitigate damage, with walls and other obstacles during low-speed operation.

The C⁺ Pod is just one of many small BEVs now on sale and they are popular in more developed countries like Japan where people appreciate having simple, personal transport. But will Malaysians accept such a small car priced at RM60,000, which is still almost double the price of a Saga? Incidentally, a Honda N-Box, the bestselling kei car in Japan, is priced between RM70,000 and RM80,000. As long as EVs do not have prices at the same level as the cheapest models of the two national brands, it will be hard for the country to move towards electrification.

UMW Toyota Motor broadens initiatives to help flood victims in Selangor

Following up on its immediate response to the floods in Selangor recently, UMW Toyota Motor is now going further with its flood relief initiatives to provide more meaningful assistance. This is being done through dispatching staff volunteers, using its Shah Alam facility as a flood ‘Command Centre’, and donating basic household necessities to victims.

In fact, even on December 24, UMW Toyota Motor staff started going to affected areas, many of which are in the areas surrounding its head office complex and assembly plants. The volunteers helped with the cleaning of homes, among other activities.

Supported by Raja Muda of Selangor Foundation
This initiative was also supported by the Raja Muda of Selangor Foundation in providing guidance and support on the mechanics to ensure smooth management of the situation. The company said that its volunteers will continue this assistance for as long as it is needed, where and when possible.

Flood ‘Command Centre’ for future use too
The flood ‘Command Centre’ established at the UMW Toyota Motor headquarters will also function as a soup kitchen and relief distribution centre for victims in the event of a similar phenomenon in the future. Additionally, up to 100 parking spaces in the compound will be allocated in such situations for flood victims to park their vehicles safely. This will be on a first come-first served basis for any make of vehicle, and the owners will only have to sign an indemnity form.

“UMW Toyota Motor stands in solidarity with the community. Malaysians have been going through an extremely challenging period due to the flood and we want to do what we can to provide some relief. We express our sincerest sympathies to all the victims and families affected and we hope that our initiatives will be of some help,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

“We were also inspired and moved by the compassion of the many Malaysians who have volunteered to help out their fellow countrymen, including our group of staff volunteers. We realised that response and relief efforts were slow to take place. Hence, we decided that even for future, we will immediately convert our Shah Alam facility into a flood ‘Command Centre’ to provide kind-hearted Malaysians a safe place to deliver and sort out the relief items before distributing to the surrounding temporary evacuation centres,” he added.

Besides the clean-up exercises, UMW Toyota Motor has also distributed basic household necessities including stoves, fans and kettles to affected households in hopes to alleviate some of their burden.

“We would like to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt gratitude towards our suppliers, namely the Toyota Suppliers Club Malaysia, DENSO Malaysia, Toyota Tsusho and Sime Kansai for stepping up and providing financial support to our endeavours. Their contributions were used to buy household appliances and other necessities to be given as aid to the flood victims,” Mr. Ravindran said.

In addition to giving aid to the local communities, UMW Toyota Motor is also providing assistance to its own workforce affected by the flood. These include repairs for personal vehicles owned by employees, financial aid as well as distribution of basic household necessities.

A Toyota GR Yaris that runs on hydrogen is under development

Since May this year, a special Toyota Corolla Sport run by the ROOKIE Racing arm of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has been competing in the Super Taikyu Series 2021. Its engine doesn’t run on petrol but uniquely, on hydrogen. This is not the same as the powertrain in the Mirai EV which has its electric motors powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. For the engine in the Corolla Sport, a prototype, the combustion process uses hydrogen.

Combustion in a hydrogen-fuelled engine occurs at a faster rate than in petrol engines, resulting in a characteristic of good responsiveness. While having excellent environmental performance, hydrogen engines still have the typical character of a combustion engine, especially ‘familiar’ sounds and vibrations. Except for the combustion of minute amounts of engine oil during driving, which is also the case with petrol engines, hydrogen engines emit zero CO₂ when in use.

*Prototype Corolla Sport with hydrogen engine racing in Super Taikyu series in Japan.*

Moving to the next steps
As the R&D engineers gain increasing experience and feedback from running the engine in the harsh conditions of motorsport in Japan, they are progressing towards the next steps. This is demonstrated in an experimental hydrogen-powered GR Yaris which shares same powertrain as the prototype Corolla Sport racing car.

*Second generation of the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) which uses hydrogen in a process that generates electricity.*

The car’s hydrogen fuel, fuel tanks and refuelling process are the same as those found in Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) which is now in its second generation. The hydrogen combustion engine technology is still in the early stages of conceptual development and experimentation, having started in 2017, and is not yet ready for commercialisation. Nonetheless, Toyota’s experimental hydrogen-powered Corolla Sport is already delivering high performance at motorsport events in Japan with almost zero tailpipe emissions.

Modified GR Yaris engine
The engine modified to run on hydrogen is the G16E-GTS, 1.6-litre, in-line 3-cylinder, turbocharged unit used in production versions of the GR Yaris, but with a modified fuel supply and injection system for use with hydrogen as fuel.

*GR Yaris 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (version in production model shown) has been modified to run on hydrogen.*

Toyota has been strengthening its efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality, such as by aiming to promote the use of hydrogen through the popularisation of FCEVs and numerous other fuel-cell-powered products. By further refining its hydrogen engine technologies through motorsports, it intends to aim for the realisation of an even better hydrogen-based society.

Motorsport as a testing ground
The uses of motorsport as a testing ground reflects the firm belief of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, that sporting competition is a driver for progress. In March 1952, he said: “Japan’s auto industry must succeed in building passenger vehicles. To this end, manufacturers must participate in auto-racing to test their vehicles’ durability and performance and display their utmost performance. With competition comes progress, as well as excitement among motoring fans. The aim of racing is not just to satisfy our curiosity, but rather to enable the development of the Japanese passenger vehicle industry.”

“We’ve taken the first step to compete with and develop our hydrogen-powered engine with the mindset of taking on the challenge. I imagine things will look a little different 10 years from now, and I hope people will look back and see how we took on the challenge with positivity and enjoyed every moment of it,” added Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation as well as grandson of Kiichiro.

Transitioning to electric vehicles is one approach Toyota is taking to help create a carbon-neutral society. To achieve this goal, it is developing multiple electrified technologies, including hydrogen, which it views as one of the key building blocks for CO₂ reduction.

Second generation fuel cell modules
To help expand its hydrogen technology from cars to more diverse applications, it has repackaged the advanced fuel cell system used in its Mirai saloon into compact fuel cell modules. From January 2022, Toyota will start production of these second generation modules.

The new system has been packaged into modules that are more compact, lighter in weight and provide greater power density. They are available in two formats: a cube and a flat, rectangular shape, allowing greater flexibility and adaptation for different applications.

Toyota began fuel cell development in 1992 and has since continued to refine its hydrogen technology. The second generation fuel cell modules will be assembled by a manufacturing team at Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) R&D centre in Belgium. The new facility houses a pilot assembly line combining advanced technology content with high-quality assembly techniques.

Toyota chose Europe as the location for its second generation fuel cell module assembly as it sees demand growing significantly across the region. Working with businesses interested in using Toyota’s technology in their applications, TME’s Fuel Cell Business Unit will offer the necessary engineering support for integration. Proximity to its partners and the ability to closely monitor emerging business opportunities will allow the company to scale up supply quickly.

Hydrogen clusters
The expansion of a European hydrogen economy will be a key element in achieving the Green Deal’s objective of net-zero global warming emissions by 2050. The European Union has stated that, to meet this challenge, industry will need ‘climate and resource frontrunners’ to develop the first commercial applications of breakthrough technologies in key industrial sectors by 2030. The emergence of hydrogen clusters in Europe sees different sectors uniting and bringing their skills, technologies and applications together, such as truck, bus and taxi fleets and H2 infrastructure, to create viable business opportunities. This will allow them to flourish and become the nucleus of larger-scale activities.

GR Supra A91-CF Edition – the most exclusive Mark 5 Supra to date

If the way the GR Supra looks is not sporty enough for you and you live in North America, there’s an opportunity to get one which is more exclusively styled and also limited to only 600 units. It’s the GR Supra A91-CF Edition which is said to be the most exclusive Mark 5 Supra to date. Customers can choose either a 3-litre or 2-litre engine, the former an inline-6 and the latter, an inline-4.

On the outside, the A91-CF Edition has handmade carbonfibre on the front splitter with larger canards, while its carbonfibre rockers define the sides. Around the back, the carbonfibre treatment continues, with a duckbill spoiler catching the air as it flows off the rear glass, and larger, lower canards doing so down below.

This aero kit isn’t just for looks; its functional purpose improves downforce and stability during both everyday drives and hot laps around the track. Additionally, unique 19-inch wheels sport a matte-black texture that complement special edition’s matte-grey Phantom paint colour, besides Absolute Zero White and Nitro Yellow which are other colour choices. Additionally, depending on the version, there are also colours like Nocturnal, Renaissance Red, Tungsten and Turbulence Gray.

The cockpit is also given an exclusive touch with refinements throughout. A red-and-black theme is used and there’s Alcantara and leather trim. The sport seats have red stitching details with 14-way power adjustment as well as heating. Carbonfibre is also used inside for some interior trim, while the 3-spoke steering wheel is leather-wrapped and sport pedals are standard.

For the 2021 model year, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing engineers boosted output of the Supra’s turbocharged 3-litre 6-cylinder inline-six from 335 to 382 bhp, a 14% increase after just one year on the market. Torque has been increased by very slightly to almost 500 Nm and peaking 500 rpm higher.

The 2-litre 4-cylinder engine shares much of its technology with the 3-litre unit, including a twin-scroll turbo, direct fuel injection and continuously variable timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. It delivers up to 255 bhp/400 Nm to take the Supra from standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a claimed 5 seconds. An 8-speed transmission is standard for both engines.

The Supra 3.0 chassis was also tweaked heading into its second year of production. Lightweight aluminium braces were added to increase lateral rigidity, along with front and rear bump stops and new damper tuning. Revised programming for the electric power steering, Adaptive Variable Suspension, Vehicle Stability Control and Active Differential have improved stability through quick transitions, such as compound turns.

To purchase a GR Supra in Malaysia, click here to locate a GR Garage.

UMW Toyota Motor announces Toyota Flood Assist Program for owners affected by the floods

Although UMW Toyota Motor operates nationwide, its home base is in Shah Alam, Selangor, and this is where severe flooding has taken place over the weekend. So it is especially aware of the effects on people in area surrounding its head office.

As an immediate response, the company has announced a special Toyota Flood Assist Program to help Toyota vehicle owners impacted by the flood. It’s already bad enough to have a vehicle damaged by being trapped in a flood and to help give some peace of mind, the Toyota Flood Assist Program offers a 25% discount on the total bill for repair work done at an authorised Toyota service centre. This includes parts and labour charges as well as free towing service to the service centre.

The vehicles will be inspected and a quotation provided on the expected repair cost which includes parts removal. Needless to say, only genuine parts will be used for all replacement or repair work.

“While nothing can fully compensate the loss and distress suffered by those affected by the flood, we hope that our Toyota Flood Assist Program will provide some sort of relief to our fellow Malaysians. Our customers are very valuable to us and through this program, we want to ease some of their burden, even if it’s just by a little, to help those impacted get back on their feet quickly. We sincerely hope for the quickest possible recovery of these communities and the team at Toyota extends our heartfelt prayers for the safety of all Malaysians,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

Toyota owners can be assured of aftersales support for their vehicles damaged by the flood as all Toyota Service Centres and Body & Paint centres will remain open during this critical period. Additionally, Toyota owners can contact Toyota’s 24SEVEN Road Assist for further assistance if needed. The service is available to all Toyota owners and operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Should a vehicle be too badly damaged and the owner would like to get a new Toyota vehicle to replace it, the company has an interest-free ‘Easy Payment Plan’ for eligible customers.

Toyota owners requiring assistance or information the Toyota Flood Assist Program can visit ant authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Toll Free Line at 1-800-8-869682 (1-800-8-TOYOTA).

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade

While Toyota has expressed a view that suggests it will not stop producing internal combustion engines so quickly – to provide customers with greater choice and not leave any customer behind – it is no less committed to electrification of its products in the quest to achieve carbon neutrality. As a pioneer in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology, having introduced the first mass-produced car with a hybrid powertrain in the late 1990s, the carmaker has naturally been promoting the technology which also contributes to reducing toxic exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.

Long history of EV developments
However, in the longer term, fully electric vehicles are going to become mainstream products, beginning with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and progressing to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In fact, the company has an EV development division since 1992 and an early production EV that went on sale in 1996 was the RAV4 EV, Today, besides a wide range of HEVs, Toyota already offers BEVs and even FCEVs, the latter now in the second generation with the Mirai.

*Toyota sold (in limited numbers) a fully electric model – the RAV4 EV – in 1996 and today, it has even begun selling electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells like the Mirai (below).*

The crucial technology
Battery technology is obviously crucial for every carmaker and Toyota will invest greatly in R&D for this area as well as in the supply system. The carmaker has had a subsidiary fully involved in battery development and manufacturing and has aimed to bring about cost reduction of at least 50% per vehicle during this decade. At the same time, safety, longer service life and high quality will be advanced.

*Battery technology is a crucial area for electric vehicles and Toyota will be spending heavily to develop more advanced technologies as well as push battery cost down.*

“Over the past 26 years, we have invested nearly 1 trillion yen and produced more than 19 million batteries. We believe that our accumulated experience is an asset that gives us a competitive edge. Going forward, we will increase our new investment in batteries from the 1.5 trillion yen announced in September to 2 trillion yen, aiming to realize even more-advanced, high-quality, and affordable batteries,” said Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, at a press conference in Tokyo this afternoon.

*1 trillion yen = approximately RM37.2 billion*

*The bZ4x is the first of the new range of BEVs and production is now underway with sales set to begin in 2022.*

*Toyota’s range of BEVs by the end of the decade will look something like this.*

As long as Akio Toyoda is leading Toyota, we will still get sportscars – even if they run on electricity instead of petrol (although the company is now exploring use of hydrogen as a fuel in combustion engines).

Sales volume of BEVs raised
Besides outlining the company’s BEV strategies, Mr. Toyoda also revealed 16 Toyota and Lexus BEV models that it is readying for market launch, starting with the Toyota bZ4X which has already had been shown in production form and will begin sales in 2022. By 2030, the company is going to roll out 30 BEV models and is anticipating sales of 3.5 million BEVs globally. This is an increase of 75% on the previous annual sales projection of 2 million BEVs mentioned in May this year. The Lexus brand aims to have BEVs, which will be in every segment, account for 100% of the total sales in Europe, North America, and China by 2030.

*Lexus will develop a full range of electrically-powered models, including sportscars that may look like the one below.*

*Lexus RZ BEV prototype during development testing. First teaser image of production model shown below. It will go on sale in 2022.*

In this diversified and uncharted era, it is important to flexibly change the type and quantity of products produced while keeping an eye on market trends. At the same time, energy plays a critical role in achieving carbon neutrality. For this reason, Toyota wants to provide a diversified range of carbon-neutral options to meet whatever might be the needs and situations in every country and region.

*Just like today, Toyota will have something for every segment of the market to suit different requirements and conditions.*

Markets and customers decide
“It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose. As for why we try to keep so many options, in terms of business management, one might think it would be more efficient to focus on fewer choices. However, we believe that quickly adapting to changes in the future is more important than trying to predict the future, which is uncertain. That is why we want to keep options available for our customers until the right path is clear,” said Mr. Toyoda.

Toyota recognised for winning the most 5-Star awards from ASEAN NCAP

Toyota’s ultimate goal is to reduce fatalities from traffic accidents to zero, and to realize this, the company has been developing its vehicles with safer systems to help drivers avoid accidents and also to protect the occupants if an accident does occur. This has been ongoing for decades, and numerous advances in automotive safety have been developed to make vehicles in the Toyota Group as safe as possible – even to other road-users.

4 awards to Toyota
The efforts have been recognised by ASEAN NCAP – the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries – which has evaluated many new vehicles from the safety point of view. At its 10^th anniversary celebration, the Toyota Brand received 4 awards including two for ‘THE MOST 5-STAR CARS 2012-2020’. The other awards were for ‘BEST ADULT OCCUPANT PROTECTION 2017-2020’ (for the C-HR crossover), ‘BEST SAFETY ASSIST 2019’ (for the Majesty and Granvia). The awards were among those presented by ASEAN NCAP under the ‘Decade of Safer Vehicle Awards’.

The awards were given to Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM), which is Toyota’s regional headquarters for engineering and manufacturing functions for Southeast and South Asia. TDEM was originally established in 2003 as the Toyota Technical Centre Asia Pacific and was then integrated with Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in 2007. From April 2017, the company was renamed Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. And based in Thailand (separate from Toyota Thailand).

*Toyota has received the most 5-star ratings over the past 10 years, with the maximum rating even given to models like the Hilux pick-up truck.*

“Toyota has a long history in Asia, wherein we have been recognized by our customers as the foremost brand for QDR – Quality, Reliability and Durability – and safety. We started production activities in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia as early as the 1960s and over the last 6 decades, we have strived to develop the best products not only to suit our ASEAN customers’ needs, but also to improve and adopt safety technologies as part of our fundamental responsibility as a mobility company, prioritizing the improvement of road and traffic safety in this region,” said Prasanna Ganesh, Executive Vice-President of TDEM. “We are very honoured and humbled to be recognized across various categories on the occasion of ASEAN NCAP’s 10th Anniversary, and are committed to make our products and technologies ‘ever better and ever safer’ when compared to the past.”

Focus on ASEAN models
ASEAN NCAP is the ninth new car assessment program in the world that performs independent assessment on the safety performance of new passenger car models released in the market. Its main objective is to promote and enhance vehicle safety standards and rating system in the ASEAN region.

MIROS PC3 — ASEAN NCAP has its own crash test facility in Melaka and has tested some 110 models and variants over a period of 10 years. Additionally, it also collaborates with safety organisations in some other Asian countries to test certain models.

The safety assessment initially began with test phases in which the first phase of the assessment, comprising 8 models, was funded by Global NCAP. After 10 years, the organisation has tested some 110 models and variants and has produced 137 ratings. During this period, ASEAN NCAP has also developed three roadmaps (for the periods 2012 – 2016, 2017 – 2020 and 2021 – 2025) to provide the industry with guidance for development of vehicle safety systems.

*In 2012, the Honda City was the first car tested by ASEAN NCAP at its crash-test facility.*

Under the current roadmap for 2021 – 2025, there are 4 assessment domains comprising Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Safety Assist and Motorcyclist Safety. This roadmap marks a significant milestone for ASEAN NCAP in which there was the development of an assessment pillar that ensures the assessed vehicle avoids collision with vulnerable road-users, particularly motorcyclists.

Helping make cars safer
“When we first began our work in 2011, there were not many people who had such high confidence in us. We heard people say that we will only last for 3 months. Because of this assumption, we were determined to go against all odds to prove them wrong. I was blessed with a group of dedicated young people who were eager to learn about crash testing and, of course, their perseverance towards road safety research, which was a fairly new area at the time. Now I’m proud to see all our hard work have resulted in astounding achievements and we are making significant impact to the automotive industry with consumers safety is being placed huge importance in vehicle development,” said MIROS Director-General who is also ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General and Acting Chairman, Hon. Assistant Commissioner (CD) Adjunct Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim.

*With a large number of accidents involving motorcyclists, ASEAN NCAP’s roadmap has given greater attention to protecting this group of road-users.*

“The ‘Decade of Safer of Vehicle Award’ is our way of giving credit where it is due and also provide recognition to manufacturers who have consistently adhering to our protocol to ensure that their vehicles obtained 5-Star ratings. My wish is that the Award serves as a catalyst to encourage other manufacturers to continuously research and improve their respective vehicles by putting safety first in the development of the cars,” he added.

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Cumulative sales over 11 months for Toyota and Lexus 26% higher than in 2020

Toyota and Lexus sales in Malaysia mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV. However, demand for the two brands distributed by UMW Toyota Motor remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.

The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups). For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.

Toyota Vios and Hilux bestsellers
Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the bestselling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.

*Toyota’s bestselling models in Malaysia – the Vios and Hilux.*

“The continued growth of the market is a sign that we are steadily progressing towards recovery. The New Normal means that some things have to be done differently and we have to be conscious of SOPs, and at Toyota, we have adapted our processes accordingly. Customers can visit our showrooms or send their vehicles to authorized service centres with peace of mind that they are protected health-wise,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models. Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.

Countdown to hybrid launch
Preparations are being finalized for the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle in the near future. This will be the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

“Since we opened for bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid, response has been good and we are happy to see that many Malaysians are keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology. Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

ASSB Bukit Raja, Selangor — *The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor is now assembling the first Toyota hybrid model in Malaysia, alongside the Vios and Yaris.*

“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect. And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Mr. Takeyama added.

The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty. Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit. Customers can also extend their warranty for a further 2 years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.

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