Toyota announces development of small electric vans and electric pickup trucks with hydrogen fuel

According to Automotive News, Japan's automotive leader Toyota announced today that it will work with "allied automakers" to develop a small electric commercial van and a light electric pickup truck with hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Toyota said it will work with leading minicar companies Daihatsu and Suzuki to develop a small electric commercial van. The project is scheduled to begin production in 2023, with mass sales at the appropriate time. Toyota expects to build about 580 vans, and they will be used to transport goods in Tokyo and Fukushima prefectures. Toyota said the project aims to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles.

It's worth noting that small vehicles are a market segment primarily aimed at Japan, where they are more passable and can access many areas where larger vehicles cannot. Small commercial vehicles account for about 60 percent of the entire commercial vehicle fleet in Japan.

In addition, Toyota will work with truck makers Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors to develop an electric pickup truck with hydrogen fuel cell technology. The project is scheduled to last until March 2030, and there is no exact delivery date.

Toyota will continue to cut production in August and reduce global production by 20% due to chip shortages and the New Crown epidemic, including a one-month shutdown of its electric vehicle (EV) production line in Japan.