Toyota has abandoned its planned Lexus LF-ZC electric sedan that was due by the end of 2026. The company will instead focus on larger SUVs while continuing solid-state battery and gigacasting development for future EVs.
The Japanese firm has never truly believed in them, though its stance has evolved under new chief executive Koji Sato.
At the same time, the company does not want to abandon combustion-engine models entirely, in which it still believes.
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Toyota will cover part of the financial burden that its suppliers face after halting the Lexus LF-ZC EV project, which had been slated to debut new battery cells, Gigacasting production methods, and multiple efficiency breakthroughs. The decision created an unprecedented impact on partners and eliminates a central model from the automaker's future EV plans.
Toyota has opened orders for the Hilux BEV, its first fully electric pickup and first body-on-frame EV. The move brings the best-selling pickup, with more than 27 million units sold over seven decades, into an electrified era.
LG Energy Solution has begun production of LFP and NMC battery cells at its Lansing, Michigan factory, announced on 18 August. The plant is expected to reach more than 35 GWh annual capacity to supply both BESS and EV customers including Toyota.
GM activated vehicle-to-grid capability for more than 250,000 existing bidirectional EVs with no new hardware required. The move positions parked vehicles as a major distributed energy resource to support grid stability amid rising demand.
BYD has launched the Atto 8 seven-seat electric SUV in Europe with up to 405 miles of WLTP range for the rear-wheel-drive version. The model is the first in the region to use the company's second-generation Blade Batteries and Flash Charging system that reaches 70 percent in five minutes.
