Toyota has also joined the race to develop long-range yet affordable electric cars. And it has chosen Mazda to be its partner in this new venture. Toyota was one of those companies that believed hybrid was the way when most European automakers were moving towards engine downsizing and turbocharging. Toyota big guns also believed that electric vehicles are not the future and there is much to explore and improve in hybrid and internal combustion engines.
Also Read: Chinese Electric Cars in Pakistan – Shifeng D101 is now up for Grabs!
On the other hand, Toyota’s partner in this mission Mazda also believed something similar and only recently revealed its highly efficient fuel efficient petrol engines. But it seems like both Toyota and Mazda have realized that maybe electric cars were not just a fad and there is actually some substance to them. And they have dragged Denso in it as well.
Tesla has already shown and proved that electric cars could not only be profitable but also decent commuters for the consumers in a long run. But Tesla is a premium brand. In cheaper options, you have cars like Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan Leaf, and Volkswagen’s e-Golf. And it is safe to say Toyota and Mazda will also be targeting this sort of segment.
Toyota will be owning the 90% of the new venture dubbed as “EV Common Architecture Spirit.” The new company’s CEO is Toyota Executive VP Shigeki Terashi. And Mazda and Denso will each take a 5 percent stake.
We now have electric cars in Pakistan as well, albeit Chinese. It is only a matter of time when we will see some electric cars in Pakistan by one of these more mainstream automobile makers. There are couple of Nissan Leaf electric cars as well as a couple of BMW i8 hybrid electric cars in Pakistan but it is going to take some time before other renouned brand cars come to this side of the globe.
