Toyota announced the launch of its first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in the Chinese market by 2018. The company will also move some production to China.
Toyota indicated that the launch is in response to the recent EV policies in China. This is also the first time Toyota has ever planned a PHEV production outside of Japan. Last fall, Toyota has sold two types of hybrid cars that are made in China – Corolla and Levin. PHEV version of the two types of vehicles will be introduced in the future as well.
Toyota said that more and more brand manufacturers will launch PHEV or pure electrical vehicles at around 2018, therefore it’s essential to start the strategy deployment in China ahead of time. In addition, vehicles produced in China will mainly sell to the Chinese market. Assembly will mostly take place in China too, while core technology and accessories will be kept in Japan.