Classic statements from an entrenched player caught in a disruptive market. "The new thing is too expensive and doesn't do everything it should" until suddenly it does, and offers new benefits.
I'm actually hoping the Toyota/Mazda joint venture works out because I have always liked Mazda cars and I was concerned they were being left behind. However, I'm not convinced that Toyota is taking this seriously enough. Time will tell. Mike > On November 21, 2017 at 5:15 AM brucedp5 via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org> wrote: > > > > > https://cleantechnica.com/2017/11/19/toyota-chairman-tells-der-spiegel-evs-not-ready-mass-production-yet-expensive-slow-charge/ > Toyota Chairman Tells Der Spiegel EVs Are Not Ready For Mass Production Yet, > Too Expensive & Too Slow To Charge > November 19th, 2017 James Ayre > > [image > https://c1cleantechnicacom-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/files/2017/09/Tesla-Model-3-white-pop.png > Tesla-3 > ] > > In keeping with earlier comments from Toyota execs about electric vehicles, > Toyota Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada was recently quoted by the noted German > publication Der Spiegel as saying that plug-in electric vehicles are not yet > ready for mass production and sale. > > “Battery-powered cars with a long range are very expensive and it takes a > long time to charge them,” Uchiyamada stated. “Such cars do not fit in our > program.” > > The Toyota Chairman also noted that his company didn’t view Tesla as an > enemy or as a role model, but rather perhaps as a problem for the German > auto manufacturers. > > “Tesla is not our enemy and not our role model,” Uchiyamada continued. “I > think it’s the German manufacturers that rather see Tesla as a competitor.” > > That’s seemingly a true statement in that the market share that Tesla has > been stealing in recent years has largely been that of luxury German auto > manufacturers, but it has also been taking away Toyota Prius buyers — a lot > of them. The Tesla Model 3 will do so to an even greater degree. > > Until Tesla begins selling models that are cheap enough that they can > compete with Toyota’s mainstays, however, then Uchiyamada seems to have > somewhat of a point. > > Reuters provides more: “Toyota in September established a venture to develop > electric vehicle technology with partner Mazda Motor Corp, seeking to catch > up with rivals in an increasingly frenetic race to produce more > battery-powered cars. … Uchiyamada said that Toyota was working on a new > type of solid-state battery that is able to store more power and can be > recharged much more quickly than current types.” > > “This technology will be a big development step. But that will still take > time. We expect mass production in four to five years,” he stated. > > In related news, Toyota and Suzuki have come to agreement that will see the > two firms cooperate on the development and sale of plug-in electric vehicles > in the fast growing market in India from 2020 onwards, and Toyota is > considering a strategy in China of producing its electric products locally > with a joint venture. In other words, rather than take bold steps to try to > become a major battery electric car player globally, it is looking at > piecemeal plans for specific locations where governmental policies basically > require it. > > In other recent stories, Toyota expressed that it is still hopeful about > hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Seriously. > [© Sustainable Enterprises Media] > > > > http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/electric-cars-not-ready-for-mass-production-yet-toyota-chairman-to-spiegel-2017-11-20 > Electric cars not ready for mass production yet – Toyota chairman to Spiegel > 20th November 2017 Reuters ... Toyota and Suzuki Motor Corp said they had > agreed to cooperate in selling electric vehicles in India from around 2020, > aiming to give each other a leg up in emerging markets and in low-emission > technology ... > ... > https://www.cardekho.com/india-car-news/toyota-to-bring-prius-prime-and-small-electric-car-to-india-20967.htm > Toyota To Bring Prius Prime And Small Electric Car To India > Nov 20, 2017 The small electric city car will most likely come out of the > Toyota-Suzuki joint venture ... > ... > http://speedlux.com/toyota-plans-selling-locally-developed-electric-vehicles-china/ > Toyota plans of selling locally developed electric vehicles in China > 18 November 2017 … we have started thinking about the possibility of having > our China joint-venture partners provide us with EVs,” stated Hiroji Onishi, > Toyota’s head of China operations, during the press conference at the > Guangzhou auto show ... > https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/international/toyota-to-re-enter-electric-vehicles-starting-in-china-from-2020-12049949 > > > > > For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: > http://evdl.org/archive/ > > > {brucedp.neocities.org} > > -- > Sent from: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/ > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
