Toyota: We are no longer just a car-maker

Toyota is diversifying. Big time.

Not content to be pigeonholed in the same category as the likes of the Volkswagen Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Japanese manufacturer is now a “mobility company”.

Starting with deliveries in Japan from 2020, Toyota is branching out to producing mobility scooters, two-seat ‘walking area’ EVs, devices to motorise wheelchairs and potentially even flying cars.

"I am determined to transform Toyota from a car-making company into a mobility company,” announced Toyota chief Akio Toyoda recently.

“This means that Toyota will provide all kinds of services related to transportation to people around the world.

"We are serious about creating the mobility society of the future. Accordingly, we must look beyond existing frameworks, rally like-minded partners and leverage our respective strengths as we continually take on the future," stated Toyoda.

During a media preview of Toyota's next-generation products today, before the doors open to the 2019 Tokyo motor show tomorrow, Toyota PR chief Tatsuo Okazaki reiterated the sentiment.

"The media tour this year is very different, due to the change we're making in Toyota itself. Akio Toyoda recently make a point that Toyota is making a transition from a maker of automobiles to a mobility company."

Now we are about to see the fruits of this diversification and although none of the vehicles have been earmarked for Australia so far, the company confirmed its Ultra Compact BEV (battery electric vehicle) will be delivered to customers in late 2020, followed by seated and standing mobility scooters and motorised power for wheelchairs in 2021.

Japan's rapidly aging population has forced Toyota to rethink its future business strategy and, together with EVs becoming more popular, the brand has had to adopt battery electric vehicles as well, in a significant shift away from its focus on hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles.

As the major partner of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Toyota knows the world will be watching and is tipped to show off its first ever flying car, which may even be utilised to light the Olympic flame.

Toyota also confirmed it would use its new LQ concept car to escort the Olympic torch relay and take over duties as the lead vehicle for the marathon.

The world’s second biggest car-maker has even committed to going to the moon in 2029, when it plans to land a manned rover on the lunar surface.

Okazaki-san told gathered media that Toyota "…will support Olympic game programs by providing EV, FCEV and the latest automated driving tech and robotics" under the company’s new catch-cry 'mobility for all', which will also support for the Paralympic Games.

"We go beyond normal automotive manufacturing," added Okazaki.

To prove the point, Toyota has created a revolutionary "mobility theme park" at the Tokyo show, to enable people to experience its vision of the future centred on people.

Under the theme “Play the future”, the entertainment-filled theme park will display multiple forms of future mobility, including the Toyota e-Palette autonomous electric people-mover.

Toyota says the transport industry is facing its biggest challenges in more than a century, when cars began replacing horses in big numbers, with hydrogen and battery electric vehicles increasing in number, car-sharing becoming more popular and autonomous vehicle technology becoming ready for the road – and sky.

"The auto industry is heading to an unpredictable future, the biggest changes in 100 years," said Katsuhiko Koganei, project manager at Toyota's public affairs division.

Naturally in the meantime Toyota will still make cars, as evidenced by fresh Tokyo show reveals like the all-new Yaris hatch, the next-gen Mirai FCEV concept and perhaps even a concept for the next-generation Toyota 86 sports coupe.

The future of the automotive industry is at a crossroads. The question is: will Toyota's transition from car-maker to 'mobility company' be judged by history as successful?