The company prioritizes electric vehicles in compact, medium and executive segments in Europe
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- Toyota focuses on larger segments before introducing an electric yaris.
- His EU marketing boss said that Yaris EV will arrive “at the right time”.
- The company offers a small EV in Europe in the form of the urban cruiser.
Toyota slowly but surely makes its movement on the electric vehicle market after years to focus more on hybrids. A subcompact of Yaris will finally join the EV range, but do not expect it to be part of Toyota’s immediate plans, because the largest electric vehicles are priority at the moment.
Read: The new Toyota C-HR + EV can be launched in the United States next year
Andrea Carlucci, director of marketing and product development at Toyota Motor Europe, highlighted the next EV strategy of the company. In an interview CoachCarlucci was asked about the potential of an electric yaris. “This is the idea, but right now, it’s not something we are talking about …” he told the magazine. “The right time will come, but it’s not entirely now.”
Bigger it is better, for the moment
The executive said that Toyota’s approach is to launch electric vehicles in the fastest growth segments, such as compact, intermediaries and executives, categories that are considered more selling potential than undercompered models such as Yaris. Carlucci added: “For us, this is the right car, the right place at the right time, it really is. And for the moment, the expansion you see are the right segments for Europe for us right now. »»
2024 Toyota Yaris (Eu-Spec)
The current EV range of Toyota in Europe includes the recently Lift BZ4X, the new C-HR + and the urban cruiser. The latter shares its platform with the Suzuki E-Vitara and has a size similar to the Toyota Yaris cross, suggesting that the Toyota push on the SUV market undercompact gave them the breathing to delay the Yaris EV, maintaining R&D costs.
Future Toyota EVS: familiar names, familiar faces
Carlucci has also revealed that future Toyota electric vehicles will have “familiar names in current cars”, which means that the electric yaris will probably remain with the Yaris badge. Given the history of Yaris, it is expected that the EV version will make its debut towards the end of the decade. Before that, Toyota plans to introduce an electric pick-up and two electric SUVs by 2026. Also on the horizon is the production version of the FT-ME FT-ME, which is designed to compete with the Citroen Friend.
Plus: Toyota Ft-Me Concept Overview
The Toyota Yaris has proven to be very popular since the arrival of the first generation model in 1999. The fourth generation model was introduced in 2019, receiving a gentle lift in 2024. In Europe and the United Kingdom, the Yaris is now exclusively offered in Japan.
In addition to the Yaris and the Yaris Cross, the family also includes the hot hatch of Gr Yaris de Rally Rally, although it rises on a tailor -made chassis with elements of the largest Corolla. According to the latest reports, Toyota could add an electrification dose in the successor of the Gr Yaris in the form of a self-loading hybrid configuration.
