With the automobile sector slowly witnessing a massive change from the internal combustion engine to the electric powertrain. As per the latest interview by the Vice-Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the VC hinted that the company is aiming to complete the hybrid portfolio of its company in India by 2025. In an interview with the various publication by the companies spokesperson, the Japanese auto manufacturer is currently working on hybrid vehicles and it is estimated that the company will start the production by 2022.
As of now, the Japanese carmaker offers two petrol-hybrid cars in India which are Toyota Vellfire MPV and Toyota Camry. As per the latest reports Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “The public will witness hybrid cars come way down the line, closer to 2022.” He also added that the company’s plans to manufacture fully electric vehicles in the upcoming future. Toyota’s hybrid architecture is common for both a full hybrid or plug-in hybrid. It will be interesting to note that India is still dependent on 60-70% coal-fired power-plants and Mr Kirloskar believes that hybrids can be a much better option and maybe far cleaner than EVs as well.
The architecture for Electric vehicle has already been into action from past 2-3 years. Suzuki Motor Corporation laid down the foundation stone of its first-ever dedicated lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat which was set up jointly between Suzuki Motor, Toshiba and Denso to manufacture electric and hybrid cars in India. As a result, Toyota motors is reported to sign a joint venture between Toyota and Suzuki, this collaboration is expected to invest in the battery plant in the country.
Not only the company is focusing on an electric and hybrid vehicle, but also feels that hydrogen is the future of vehicles, due to its loss producing cost and a huge amount of hydrogen available in the world.
It is expected that Toyota will be sharing its hybrid electric vehicle technologies with Maruti Suzuki, which includes various systems like engines and batteries will be locally produced in India for local and global supply and usage as well.