As the newly appointed head of Toyota’s pioneering electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturing plant, which officially opened its doors in May, Takero Kato bears an immense burden of responsibility. During a recent interview, Kato elaborated on how the forthcoming electric sedan, a joint effort with BYD, is poised to play a pivotal role in NIO’s next-generation EV lineup.
Toyota unveiled its groundbreaking BEV manufacturing facility in May. While it may not evoke images of traditional manufacturing facilities, this cutting-edge plant is actually dedicated to crafting Toyota’s innovative future in electric vehicles.
Toyota aims to develop competitive electric vehicles by fostering accelerated collaborations with outdoor partners. Within a sole command under Chief Kato, the trifecta of improvement, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship converge in a unified setting.
Kato’s vision was shaped by one of its inaugural partnerships with China’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD, in a recent interview.
Kato partnered with BYD to develop the inaugural all-electric Toyota sedan, the bZ3. The company embarked on an enterprise-wide venture to China in 2018.
“For the first time, I faced head-on the intense competitiveness of Chinese companies,” Kato said. Upon observing the tools and manufacturing processes employed outside of Japan, Kato realized that we were facing significant challenges.
Toyota partnered closely with BYD to develop the initial electric sedan.
After his visit, Kato’s dream of working in China began to materialize into a tangible reality. In a meeting with Toyota’s top brass, Vice Chairman Shigeki Terashi posed the question, “Are we considering a joint venture with BYD?” Can we actually get a chance to request your assistance?
Kato has been selected to lead a collaborative effort with BYD in developing an electric sedan. With deliberate haste, he began constructing a team.
Following their summer break, Kato returned to attend a meeting with BYD. Following a six-month visit to BYD’s headquarters, where groundwork was laid, the team chose an idea in 2020.
Recognising the rapid pace of innovation and knowledge advancement in China, Kato sought to leverage this momentum by immersing himself in the country’s cutting-edge developments, eager to accelerate his own organisational growth through effective knowledge transfer.
The method required fixed change. In prior Toyota initiatives, the vehicle’s specifications had to be locked down before improvements could begin.
He identified the pivotal alteration as occurring five months post-modification to the vehicle’s roofline and wheelbase dimensions. With the overall top lowered by 25 millimeters, the underbody necessitated a redesign.
Toyota’s Kato noted that introducing such changes could potentially stall progress in Japan, where a new electric sedan, co-developed by the company and BYD, was unveiled in October 2022 as the bZ3 – its first-ever all-electric Toyota sedan.
The BYD Blade-powered electric sedan features a range of over 600 kilometres (379 miles), varying according to specific models and configurations. The electric SUV rides on the e-TNGA platform, which is also utilized by the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
Following the initial launch of the primary BZ3 in March, FAW-Toyota announced a remarkable start with over 5,000 units ordered on its maiden sales day?
Toyota has accelerated its efforts to drive innovation in electric vehicles (EVs), implementing a series of recent upgrades to enhance efficiency. The automaker intends to debut its next-generation electric vehicles in 2026, featuring advanced battery technology, a cutting-edge platform, and enhanced production processes. Kato oversees the development of innovative and on-trend fashion concepts.
