Japanese automaker Toyota is reportedly planning to launch a new electric vehicle with self-driving technology in China next year through its local joint venture GAC Toyota.
According to various reports, GAC Toyota — a joint venture with Chinese state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group — announced at an event in Guangzhou on Friday that it will launch the first electric vehicle with advanced autonomous driving systems similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system.
This is seen as part of Toyota’s efforts to try to salvage its dwindling market share in the world’s largest auto market, largely due to its lack of interest in developing electric vehicles. China is now the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, and Toyota’s market share has fallen sharply in recent years.
The Bozhi 3X SUV is scheduled to launch in China in 2025, and will feature advanced driving assistance for everything from parking to highway navigation and urban traffic situations.
The self-driving system was developed in collaboration with local startup Momenta, which has developed self-driving software for automakers like Mercedes-Benz. GAC Toyota confirmed the partnership on its Weibo channel earlier this week, CnEVPost reported.
GAC Toyota is reportedly set to integrate Huawei’s operating system into an electric sedan — possibly the Toyota bZ3X — as well as introduce a lithium iron phosphate battery sometime in 2026 or 2027, which the company says could reduce the cost of producing the bZ4X EV by 40%.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean tech and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean tech for Renew Economy and The Driven magazine since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is on foot.
