Toyoda stepped down in January and handed the reins to former Lexus chief Koji Sato. Under Sato\u2019s leadership, Toyota\u2019s engineers and planners have been busy developing this new roadmap that puts EVs front and center and does so in a cost-efficient way.<\/p>\n

In May, Toyota set up BEV Factory, an organization dedicated to making the next-gen battery EV. This unit will oversee the launch of a full lineup of EVs in 2026 and the sale of 1.7 million EV units by 2030. Toyota has said in the past that by 2025 it will offer an electrified option for every Toyota and Lexus model globally.<\/p>\n

To reach such lofty production goals, Toyota has to increase production capabilities, and it\u2019s doing so in a way that directly challenges rival Tesla. The automaker said Tuesday it would slash costs using Giga casting, a method invented by Tesla that relies on massive, aluminum casting machines to reduce vehicle complexity and cut factory investment.<\/p>\n

Toyota also said it is developing a new modular EV platform and a heavily automated assembly line that would phase out the now-antique conveyor belt system. The \u201cself-propelling\u201d assembly line would see cars under production driving themselves through the process, which could reduce \u201cthe processes and plant investment by half,\u201d according to the company.<\/p>\n

Toyota also reiterated plans to bring its Arene operating system into cars by 2025. Arene OS, which Toyota says can be updated over-the-air, is a software platform that drives core car capabilities, advanced driver assistance systems and cockpit functions.<\/p>\n