Toyota is reportedly preparing to enter the Chinese range-extender electric vehicle market. The company plans to use a small internal combustion engine as a generator to supply electricity to the powertrain, rather than directly driving the wheels.
According to reports from Nikkei Asia, the automaker intends to start production in April 2027. Initial output is projected at several hundred units per month, with plans to scale production to 200,000 units by the end of 2027.
The company aims to reach an annual production volume of 400,000 units by 2028. This move follows Toyota's previous releases in the Chinese New Energy Vehicle market, including the bZ4X, bZ3, bZ3X, bZ5, and bZ7 models developed with local partners.
The range-extender segment in China has seen significant activity from manufacturers such as Li Auto, Aito, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Xiaomi, and Volkswagen. Chinese authorities have recently implemented new technical requirements for these systems.
