Toward the new era of electric vehicles

By all accounts, this year’s Tokyo Motor Show—the 46th running of the biennial event—was unique.

It was unique in the sense that apart from just showcasing new cars, as had been done before, the entire event signaled a seat change in the auto industry: that the sun is setting on the internal combustion engine and, after a transition period, is set to rise on the new era of electric vehicles.

And surprisingly, this change is being embraced wholeheartedly by no less than the world’s largest automaker, Toyota.

As the lead organizer of this year’s motor show, the global giant led by its president Akio Toyoda made an important statement about its vision of the future by shifting the industry’s focus from merely selling cars to providing “mobility for all”.

Sure, there were still cars, trucks and motorcycles—a lot of them—and there is no immediate threat to the industry of a sudden demise of the prevailing establishment, but Toyota’s message is unmistakable: the future is to provide people with the ability to move from one place to another… and cars will just be one of many modes to meet that goal.

And next year, Toyota will get the platform it needs to showcase this new thrust to the world. In speeches by senior executives, new product demonstrations, and a preview of its mobility plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the company displayed its vision for integrated mobility products and services.

Not all that different

“Sports and making cars aren’t all that different,” said Toyota EVP Mitsuru Kawai, who welcomed several hundred reporters and guests ahead of the motor show’s formal opening. “For athletes to get stronger, they train to improve every single day. It is continuous improvement, and a basic principle of the Toyota way. We are proud to share our progress, and our ongoing commitment to making ever better cars.”

Toyota announced its plan to transition into a global mobility company at CES 2018, with president Akio Toyoda unveiling the e-Palette mobility-as-a-service concept and a new corporate focus on products and services designed to extend freedom of movement to all.

The shift was built on an understanding that four key technology and societal trends—connected networks, automation, shared services, and electrification – were combining to unlock new possibilities for mobility that extended well beyond the limits of the traditional automobile.

Toyota’s progress towards this goal was on full display at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. In addition to ever-better models of traditional automobiles, such as the all-new Yaris, the company’s line-up boasts a range of new electrified vehicles that are ready to hit the market.

Next-generation Mirai

This included the next-generation Mirai, which is set to drive fuel cell electric technology from an emerging platform to a true performance competitor, the Ultra-Compact battery electric vehicle, a short-distance mobility solution for everyone from seniors to businesses and local governments, and a host of other battery-powered micro-mobility platforms. These new products are backed by an expanding network of partnerships with battery manufacturers that will help to meet accelerating demand in the years to come.

“Vehicle electrification is the heart of our transformation into a global mobility company,” Toyota EVP Shigeki Terashi said, “and our full range of electrified vehicles has positioned Toyota to meet consumer needs and reduce CO2 emissions. We are proud to have set aggressive targets for electrified vehicle sales by 2030, and even more aggressive targets for emissions reductions by 2050. These reflect our belief in the potential of electrified vehicles, as well as our commitment to overcoming the barriers that still stand in the way of widespread adoption.”

Successful integration

Toyota’s is also successfully integrating electrified powertrains with emerging autonomous and connected mobility systems to develop platforms for shared services that will see their first major test at the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year. No longer just a concept, the e-Palette will provide an electric and autonomous “mobility as a service” transportation option for athletes and staff at the Olympic and Paralympic Villages.

The LQ, previously unveiled by Toyota at CES in 2017 as the Concept-i, also demonstrated how the powerful blend of SAE level 4 automated driving and artificial intelligence can remake the relationship between car and driver. These same core technologies will also be adapted into smaller products, including a range of robotics platforms designed to enhance people’s abilities, especially seniors or those with physical disabilities.

“At Toyota, we understand the importance of developing new technologies to amplify human capabilities, not just to replace them,” Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt said in a briefing. “Robots that can assist us on the job, or cars that avoid crashes when we drive, will offer direct physical benefits to individuals and society. Technology that will allow us to age in place with dignity, or to take greater joy in personal mobility, will offer enormous emotional benefits. But combined, these emotional and physical benefits will help build a new relationship with technologies that are designed to make life more fulfilling.”

More than just showing off a collection of advanced hardware and future service plans, Toyota used the motor show to reinforce its belief in the power of mobility to improve society. This philosophy is the backbone of Toyota’s partnership with the Olympic Games, and its work to provide safe, environmentally sustainable and “just-in-time” mobility for the thousands of athletes, staff and visitors who will journey to Tokyo for the quadrennial sporting event next year. But the Olympics are just the start, as the company is working towards a future where mobility is seamlessly integrated into a wider “connected city” in which services and support would be available on-demand to everyone.

What is clear from the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show is that the traditional mainstream industry is alive and well, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. But that same future unmistakably points to a different landscape down the road. And, from all indications, Toyota is ready for it.