TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Toyota's first global EV coming in 2022

Toyota has become synonymous with petrol-electric hybrid technology since it released the first Prius in 1997, but it has taken more than two decades for the Japanese car-maker to jump on the pure battery-electric vehicle (BEV) bandwagon, with the just-announced Ultra-Compact BEV.

With its measly 100km range and 60km/h top speed, the tiny two-seat EV – revealed at the Tokyo motor show today -- is a Japan-only prospect at this stage.

However, Toyota's chief technical officer and executive vice-president, Shigeki Terashi also confirmed plans for a European-market EV by early 2022.

And Toyota Australia is open to the idea of selling an EV in its dealerships alongside the likes of the top-selling HiLux, Corolla and LandCruiser models.

Expected to rival the likes of the retro-styled Honda e EV, which means it will likely have a range of around 250km, the new Toyota EV will be based on a new platform as part of an EV joint-venture recently established with Subaru.

"As far as we are concerned, when we do BEV in Europe … in the first half of 2022 – and those dates will be discussed further – a smaller compact vehicle will be introduced in Europe," Terashi told global media in Tokyo.

Toyota's research and development chief also confirmed another EV would be developed for the USA, but that it would be a much larger vehicle than the compact EV for Europe – and that it may not be based on the upcoming EV architecture being jointly developed with Subaru.

"Subaru joint-venture [EV for the USA]? It depends on [predicted] sales units. But in the USA, unlike Europe or India, we want to introduce larger BEV. We will launch BEV in USA so please create an environment [conducive to this]," he told the US journalists in the room.

While Toyota has dragged its feet getting into the EV game, preferring to focus on hybrids like the Prius and Camry, and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) such as the Mirai, it says it now wants to cover all bases – like Hyundai – and offer a broad range of vehicles to consumers.

Closer to home, Toyota Australia is open to the idea of an EV gracing Aussie showrooms – despite its hesitance to adopt already-available plug-in hybrid electric vehicles such as the Prius PHEV.

Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing, told carsales.com.au that while petrol-electric hybrids were the low-emission vehicle of choice for Toyota buyers Down Under, with around 40 per cent of all Corolla, Camry and RAV4 sales being hybrid, EVs will very much be on the menu when the time is right.

"We in Australia, like all the other global markets, have unique requirements for vehicles and mobility solutions.

"So right now, clearly, we see hybrid electric vehicles as the immediate future in Australia. But we would never ever rule out the potential for bringing EVs to this country," he said.

Watch this space.

Latest news from 2019 Tokyo motor show