On June 28, GAC Toyota for the first time displayed the transformation achievements and many technical layouts in the era of joint venture 2.0 at the first Science and Technology Open Day.
In terms of electrification, GAC Toyota announced the fifth-generation intelligent electric hybrid dual engine technology, announced the progress of the new generation of power batteries, and clarified the mass production schedule of four types of batteries. In the field of intelligent cabin and intelligent driving, GAC Toyota has set a goal: to be among the first echelon in 2026
Frankly speaking, the topic of the transition from fuel vehicles to electrification has been talked about by joint venture car companies for many years, but almost none of them can explain how to transform. This time, GAC Toyota has not only carried out a comprehensive innovation in technology, but also made significant adjustments in various dimensions such as strategy and marketing.
For example, China's autonomy is increasing, and GAC Toyota is no longer "produced in China", but "researched in China". In addition, the marketing style of the entire Technology Day is moving closer to the new forces, and GAC Toyota is unceremoniously facing the competition with its friends.
Behind the many changes, what efforts should GAC Toyota have in the joint venture 2.0 era, and how will GAC Toyota break out of the encirclement?
Tank bigger is a routine
"What is the real meaning of hybridization, the so-called breaking a certain record? Is it simply to increase the fuel tank and battery, and simply compete with low fuel consumption and long battery life? At the Science and Technology Open Day, Peng Baolin, deputy general manager of GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., issued a soul torture.
He believes that some plug-in hybrids advertise to be electricity-based, but they are increasing the fuel tank, which just reflects the natural shortcomings of oil and electricity synergy. The essence of hybrid should be the deep integration of oil and electricity, to achieve the ultimate balance between oil and electricity, power and fuel consumption, performance and safety.
It is no exaggeration to say that at present, hybrid is the main outlet of electrification, and major brands are competing for the technological highland. The answer sheet submitted by GAC Toyota is probably the fifth-generation intelligent electric hybrid dual engine.
According to GAC Toyota, the intelligent electric hybrid dual engine achieves high energy efficiency with a small battery, getting rid of the dependence on large batteries, large motors, and large fuel tanks. The underlying logic of some hybrid technologies on the market is that electricity is the main thing at low speed and oil at high speed.
The intelligent electric hybrid dual engine can make up for this shortcoming. The intelligent electric hybrid dual engine adopts a planetary gear structure to achieve seamless connection between the two power outputs, which can not only make the driver feel smoother, but also solve the problem of higher fuel consumption at higher speed.
GAC Toyota engineers also admitted that the intelligent electric hybrid dual engine can achieve the highest thermal efficiency in all working conditions, low fuel consumption in the full speed range, strong acceleration in the full speed range, and long battery life in the full temperature range.
All-solid-state batteries are coming
"We are aiming for the launch of all-solid-state batteries in 2027-2028, and we are making every effort to promote research and development." GAC Toyota also announced the latest progress of power batteries at this technology day. It is understood that the all-solid-state battery uses a solid-state electrolyte, so that the ions can move faster, and has the characteristics of being resistant to high voltage and less affected by temperature. Models equipped with solid-state batteries will have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and can be charged in just 10 minutes.
Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University, once said that all-solid-state batteries are recognized as one of the preferred solutions for the next generation of batteries, and they are also the key commanding heights of the competition in next-generation battery technology, and there is a great possibility of a breakthrough in the industrialization of all-solid-state batteries around 2030.
Looking at it this way, in addition to hybrid technology, Toyota's hole card should also be counted as an "all-solid-state battery". If we take 2030 as the dividing line, Toyota's all-solid-state battery mass production time point is indeed at the forefront of the industry.
In addition, high-performance lithium-ion batteries, popular lithium iron phosphate batteries, and high-performance lithium-ion batteries will be launched in the market from 2026.
Specifically, the fastest new generation of batteries to land is a performance lithium battery, which is expected to be launched in 2026, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, and fast charging from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
The popular lithium iron phosphate battery is expected to be launched in 2026-2027, with a range of up to 600 kilometers and a fast charging time of less than 30 minutes from 10% to 80%. The high-performance lithium-ion battery is expected to be launched in 2027-2028, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and a fast charging time of as little as 20 minutes.
From "Produced in China" to "Research in China"
From this technology day, we can actually see that Toyota is not repeating the story of the past, but unceremoniously facing the competition with its friends.
In the exhibition area outside the Science and Technology Day venue, GAC Toyota compared the productivity of each factory. Compared with Zhijie, Xiaomi, Tesla, BYD, and Wenjie, Guangqi Honda takes second only Tesla time to produce a car, which is consistent with BYD's Xi'an plant.
At the event site, when Peng Baolin explained the latest hybrid technology, he directly pulled the hybrid technology of Great Wall, SAIC, Changan, BYD, and Geely on the table, compared the key parameters one by one, and even said that making the fuel tank bigger is a routine...... This wave of marketing is a "new force".
Whether it is the holding of the first Science and Technology Day or the change of marketing style, this actually reflects Toyota's decentralization of GAC. As Guo Yongli, chief engineer of GAC Toyota's R&D headquarters, said, it has achieved the advancement from "production in China" to "research in China".
Literally, compared with the past joint venture car companies, the technology and products were basically in the hands of overseas car companies, at this stage, Toyota gives GAC greater autonomy, no longer limited to local production and sales.
Behind this shift is the new energy boom blowing in the Chinese market. In order to keep up with the pace of electrification, GAC Toyota recently announced: intelligent driving and intelligent cabin will be fully leading the joint venture in 2025 and keeping up with the new forces; Attack the first echelon from 2026 to 2027.
In order to achieve this goal, GAC Toyota has joined hands with Pony.ai to carry out L4 autonomous driving commercial operation and promote the large-scale mass production of high-level autonomous driving technology.
In terms of intelligence, GAC Toyota and Momenta have jointly developed an end-to-end high-end intelligent driving system, which will be installed on the Bozhi 3X model for the first time, and is expected to be launched next year. The intelligent driving system provides a full-scene high-end intelligent driving experience covering parking, highways, and urban NOA.
Beiqing Automobile also learned that the C-class pure electric sedan to be launched in 2025 will carry out more comprehensive cooperation with Huawei in terms of intelligent cockpit.
According to the plan, Toyota still insists on the multi-path development of HEV, PHEV, EV, and FCEV, and the plug-in hybrid model that supports fast charging will be launched in China in October this year. By 2026, Toyota will launch 10 new electric models and achieve its goal of selling 1.5 million electric vehicles a year. By 2030, the company aims to increase its sales target to 3.5 million units.
GAC Toyota, which has advanced in all aspects, has opened the era of joint venture 2.0, and we also expect GAC Toyota to transform into a butterfly in the wave of electrification.
Text/Yilin