EarthOne: Your New Eco‑News Hub
AsiaOne has just rolled out EarthOne, a fresh section dedicated to all things green and science‑based. Because we love the planet and we love hard facts.
- Curated stories on climate, clean tech, and sustainability.
- Easy‑to‑read articles that keep jargon at bay.
- Spotlights on research, policy, and the latest eco‑innovations.
Find gems like “Solar harvesting in unexpected places” or “Carbon footprint hacks for everyday life” right here.
Toyota’s Electric‑Car Shake‑Up
Toyota’s been scratching its head, trying to catch up with Tesla while juggling its own EV dreams. Inside the company, people are saying it’s gearing up for a complete reboot of its electric strategy (details are still in the dark).
Why the Change?
- Market Pressure: EV sales are soaring, and Toyota’s old plans feel a touch stale.
- Cost Crunch: Building on old e‑TNGA tech is pricey—time to go cheaper.
- Investor Scrutiny: Green critics are watching closely—they want faster action.
- Competitive Edge: A revamped strategy could get Toyota closer to Tesla’s game‑changing groove.
What’s on the Table?
Think of it as swapping out the engine room. A Toyota working group is drafting a new layout by early next year—could be a brand‑new architecture or a tweaked version of the existing platform, depending on what’s best.
Some Projects Paused?
Until the rewrite takes shape, Toyota has hit pause on a handful of its 30 EV projects. Notably:
- Compact Cruiser Crossover‑ currently on hold.
- BZ4X—the first cross‑platform EV—had a recall that halted production from June, but it’s back on the road this month.
What’s the Bottom Line?
It’s a gamble: slow the rollout a bit to better its long‑term play, or keep racing and risk being left behind. Either way, Toyota’s commitment to carbon neutrality remains firm, even if the exact path stays a little quiet.
Tesla as benchmark
Cheering for Change: Toyota’s Big Review
The projected future of electric cars was just turned upside down at Toyota. Some engineers and executives had a reality check: they were losing… the factory cost battle to Tesla.
Back in the planning files, Toyota had taken a very old-school view—EV demand would stay quiet for several decades. Turns out, that was a big misstep.
Key Takeaways (in plain talk)
- Reality check hits hard: The company was outpaced by Tesla when it came to slashing production costs.
- Forget the “dozen-year pause”: The four sources say Toyota’s margin plans were stuck in the past.
- Why it matters: If Toyota’s still backing a 20-30 year wait for EV demand, they’re just giving Tesla extra time to dominate.
- Now… what’s the plan? The review will rewrite how Toyota thinks about EVs—from software to manufacturing.
In short, Toyota’s leadership has heard the siren song of electric buzz and decided it’s time to update the playbook.
Why Toyota’s Been Reengineering its EV Game
They Guess‑worked-to-get 3.5 Million Cars by 2030
Back in 2024, Toyota scribbled down a tidy plan: 3.5 million electric vehicles a year – about a third of its global output – would be the litmus test for staying in the race. To match that, e‑TNGA came along, letting the same assembly line that churns out gasoline and hybrid models also brag about EVs.
But the Road Has Flicked Upside‑Down
Life’s a roll‑er‑coaster, and the EV sector’s sprint is snappier than Toyota thought. Auto majors now project that more than half of all cars will be electric by 2030. The industry’s coffers are swelling to a whopping $1.2 trillion in R&D and production dreams.
Enter Shigeki Terashi – the Revamping Ringleader
Terashi, former chief competitive officer, sits at the helm of what insiders nickname the “BR” (business revolution) squad. This isn’t just a fancy name; it’s how Toyota signals major overhauls, drawing a parallel to the big shifts of two decades ago. Though he declined to speak publicly, the buzz is that he’s feeling the heat from Tesla’s turbo‑charging innovations.
What’s Fuelling His Urgency?
- Rapid EV adoption – the market’s coming aboard faster than a rock‑slide.
- Tesla’s lightning‑fast rollout of niche tech that feels like magic.
- Industry green‑lights – a collective push to let electric own the road by 2030.
Sources say: “There’s barely any time to waste.”
Two Paths Forward for e‑TNGA
- Keep it alive with fresh tech: Pair the existing platform with the newest materials, software, and battery chemistries.
- Rake in a whole new electric platform: Build from scratch—taking roughly five years to get a new line ready for production.
Looking for Tofu‑Like Cost Cuts
Even Toyota’s factories get excited about Giga‑Press‑style casting machines that Tesla uses. The goal? Cut the workload and shrink needless parts.
Thermal management has been a sparkly point of discussion: imagine doing air‑conditioning and powertrain temperature control in one swift move. This tweak could sliver out some heft from the battery pack, shaving away thousands of dollars per vehicle—something Denso and Aisin are keen to champion.
Tesla’s Flash‑In‑The‑Pan Moment
Ten years ago, when Toyota could have leaned on Tesla to make a battery‑electric RAV4, most engineers felt “we’re fine; Tesla isn’t a threat.” By 2018, though, that stance was hitched by a pantheon of three Tesla models already on the streets.
So the company, which once sold its stake in Tesla in 2017, is now neck‑deep in the drumbeat of zero‑emissions, scratching its deck to keep up with the boss‑level electric partner that once felt it was a joke.
