AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)12/18 Report--

On December 18, FAW Toyota bZ3 started pre-sale, and a total of new models were launched with a pre-sale price range of-10,000 yuan. It is understood that the new car is Toyota's pure electric medium-sized car, but also the second bZ series model, the new car is based on the e-TNGA platform, using BYD motors and batteries.

In December 2021, Toyota unveiled 15 new electric vehicles, including a bZ SDN concept car, a prototype of FAW Toyota bZ3. In August 2022, FAW Toyota bZ3 completed the declaration in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, confirming the use of BYD batteries and motors. October 2022-the new car finally makes its debut. In other words, bZ3 is a tripartite cooperation product, that is, Toyota, BYD, FAW Toyota.

In terms of appearance, the new car basically continues the styling design of bZ SDN concept cars, using the design elements of Toyota bZ series models. As a pure electric vehicle, the new car uses a closed intake grille layout while retaining the design of the lower intake grille. In addition, the new car is equipped with the popular through-type LED lamp group, with a matrix arrangement inside the headlights on both sides, a large motion surrounding the bottom, a millimeter wave radar sensor in the middle and an air inlet for heat dissipation.

On the side of the body, the overall line of the new car is relatively simple, and it is also equipped with hidden door handles commonly used by electric cars. it is worth noting that the position of the rear triangular window is very back, almost connected to the rear, which can ensure the permeability of the rear passengers. In the rear part, the through taillight shape also continues the previous bZ4X design, the light sources on both sides have made special shape treatment, and there are a large number of triangular geometric LED light sources on the V-shaped light strips on both sides, which looks more recognizable. In terms of size, the length, width and height of the new car are 4725/1835/1475mm, wheelbase is 2880mm, positioning medium-sized pure electric car, the overall size is closer to Tesla Model 3.

In terms of interior decoration, the new car has changed Toyota's conservative style and adopted a new layout, which is officially called DIGITAL ISLAND (Digital Island) design concept. Specifically, the new car is equipped with a vertical central control large screen, which can realize the touch operation of air conditioning, audio, car window, trunk and other functions, the steering wheel adopts the online flat style, has a more sense of the future, and the knob-shaped shift mechanism looks very technical. it is also in line with the current design trend.

In terms of power, the new car's battery and motor are provided by BYD's Fudi, in which the battery uses lithium iron phosphate battery and a rear single motor layout, providing high and low power versions for consumers to choose from, which are 49.92kWh and 65.28kWh, respectively, and the corresponding motor power is 135kW and 180kW respectively. CLTC mileage is 517km and 616km.

FAW Toyota bZ3 uses BYD batteries and motors, which is still very lamenting. after all, BYD started by imitating Toyota in its early years, and its F3 imitated Toyota Corolla and became a "hero" of BYD, but now the two have reached cooperation in vehicle research and development, and in key parts of the powertrain. It should be noted that the bZ3 will be exclusive to FAW Toyota. Guangzhou Auto Toyota will not have the bZ3, which is different from the bZ4X and other Toyota fuel vehicles. It is understood that GAC Toyota will also monopolize an electric vehicle product.

On December 14, 2021, Toyota held a press conference at which 17 pure electric vehicles were displayed and a series of strategic target data were released at the same time. Toyota proposes that Toyota new energy vehicles will account for 75% of total sales in 2030, strive to sell 3.5 million vehicles a year, invest 4 trillion yen (224 billion yuan) in pure electric in 2030, and launch 30 new pure electric vehicles by 2030. In addition, Lexus will become a pure electric brand, achieving 100% pure electric in Europe, North America and China, and the goal will be extended to the world by 2035.

Although it has launched the most aggressive electric plan in history, Toyota remains hesitant and conservative compared with its competitors. On the one hand, Japanese brands represented by Toyota are vested interests of traditional fuel vehicles and will not easily give up fuel vehicles. A full transformation of electric vehicles means giving up core technologies such as engines, gearboxes, chassis and so on. Prior to this, Toyota has been the top seller in the world for three consecutive times in 2020, 2021 and the first half of 2022.

At the same time, the reality forces Toyota to make changes. In November 2021, the 26th Conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (COP26) concluded in Glasgow, UK. More than 100 governments, cities, states and automobile companies signed the Glasgow Declaration on Zero-emission cars and minivans, promising to stop selling internal combustion engines in the world's "major markets" by 2035 and globally by 2040.

Toyota's hesitant attitude towards electrification has also directly affected the market performance of joint venture brands in China. Japanese cars once accounted for half of the Chinese market, but with the rapid rise of independent brands, the market share of joint venture brands has been squeezed again and again. Japanese brands fell the most in the joint venture, falling 6.9 percentage points year-on-year to 15.3%, with FAW Toyota falling 38.8% year-on-year and dropping out of the top 10 retail sales list for three months in a row, according to November sales data from the joint venture.

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