Since May 2023, a series of major reorganisations concerning Toyota’s ZEVs have been implemented and announced: as of 15 May, the ‘Toyota ZEV Factory’ was abolished and a new ‘BEV Factory’ was established to carry out all development, production and business processes related to BEVs in a single integrated manner. The aim is to accelerate the agile development of BEVs in cooperation with overseas, Woven by Toyota and suppliers. At this time, the hydrogen business was temporarily transferred to the CV Company’s hydrogen area, but at the end of May the company announced the launch of a new organisation for the hydrogen business: as of 1 July 2023, a ‘Hydrogen Factory’ will be set up to handle fuel cells and hydrogen-related products from the CV Company’s hydrogen area, Europe, China and other regions, Toyota System Supply, the Business Development Division, etc. The Hydrogen Factory will consolidate the organisations and people in charge of fuel cells and hydrogen-related products from the CV Company’s hydrogen area, Europe, China and other regions, Toyota System Supply, Business Development Division, etc., and establish a system to carry out all processes related to the hydrogen business in a single integrated manner. The Hydrogen Factory intends to increase hydrogen mobility initiatives in Europe, China and other countries in the future, following on from earlier initiatives in Japan and the USA, and to strengthen alliances with local partners in order to promote these initiatives.

Toyota also announced a series of big news regarding BEVs and FCEVs from the end of May to the beginning of June: on 30 May, it announced an agreement with Daimler to collaborate in the CASE area, including hydrogen, and to integrate Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso; on 1 June, it announced that it would start production of BEVs from the US, in Troy, Kentucky; and on 1 June, it announced that it would start production of FCEVs from the US, in the US. BEV production at TMMK in Kentucky in 2025. These initiatives are believed to have been discussed behind the scenes since the days of former Toyota president Toyoda, but are notable as new projects launched under new president Sato.

Toyota’s New BEV Global Strategy will examine the BEV global strategy from the product, development, procurement, production and sales perspectives, while taking into account Toyota’s overall xEV strategy. It analyses the direction of Toyota’s BEV strategy, which is being re-examined under an agile philosophy, and Toyota’s approach underlying the strategy formulation, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of the BEV business. Based on the overview and performance of the most recently launched new-generation BEVs, we will also look ahead to new BEVs that are expected to be launched further in the future. The growing significance of BEVs in the context of carbon neutrality and sustainability, which are top management priorities, will also be discussed.