- Toyota will also equip GAC and their joint venture’s car models with fuel cells
- The company also raised its stake in Subaru Corp from 17 per cent to 20 per cent
Toyota Motor is planning to launch hydrogen fuel-cell car models with its China partners Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) and FAW Group. According to a filing by GAC to the Shanghai stock exchange, Toyota will also equip GAC and their joint venture’s car models with fuel cells.
Aim to launch more battery electric vehicles
“Toyota will also expand cooperation on hybrid vehicles and aim to launch more battery electric vehicles with “good quality and low prices” separately with FAW and GAC,” reported Reuters.
The new development plan reflects gestures of goodwill to Beijing by Toyota, whose Chief Executive Akio Toyoda wants to “step on the accelerator in China”, while needing “to strike a fine balance between China and the United States”, according to minutes of internal meetings seen by Reuters.
Recently, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that it has developed a stationary fuel cell generator (FC generator) that makes use of the fuel cell system (FC system) equipped in the Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
Toyota Motor Corp also raised its stake in Subaru Corp from 17 per cent to 20 per cent. The two Japanese automakers plan to jointly develop an electric sport-utility vehicle on a platform produced together, to share costs. Earlier, Toyota and Suzuki also collaborated to host electric and hybrid vehicles for the market of India.
Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen gas to power an electric motor. Since they’re powered entirely by electricity, fuel cell vehicles are considered electric vehicles, but unlike other EVs, their range and refueling processes are comparable to conventional cars and trucks.
Source: Reuters
