Small, Light, Smart, and Useful... Toyota's Future Car Keywords

"Our motto is 'Let's change the future of automobiles.' This Mobility Show is the precious beginning of that."

Koji Sato, President of Toyota, said this on the first day of the pre-press event for Japan Mobility Show 2023 on the 25th. Having taken office in April this year as the head of the world's number one automaker, he was not initially a standout candidate for the next president. It is reported that he made an impression by personally test-driving with current Chairman Akio Toyoda before he stepped down.

Sato Koji, President of Toyota, is making an announcement in a press briefing on the 25th.
[Photo by Choi Dae-yeol]

President Sato has taken on the responsibility to navigate the mobility transition era. Toyota is the company that makes and sells the most cars in the world, but it has been criticized for being passive and falling behind in the shift to electrification. At the announcement, President Sato revealed his mid-to-long-term future vision including electrification. The key point is that electrification will be pursued simultaneously with intelligence and diversification.

President Sato's phrase "Let's change the future of automobiles" is also a call to change the future of humans intertwined with automobiles. He disclosed mid-to-long-term plans divided into three areas. First, regarding the transition to electrification, he said they will further refine the unique advantages of pure electric vehicles. He stated, "We must realize values that only battery electric vehicles can offer, as well as basic performance," adding, "To create cars with a low center of gravity and spacious interiors, we need the automaker's capability to miniaturize and lighten basic components and connect each element with optimal packaging."

On the 25th, a crowd gathered near the Toyota booth inside the Japan Mobility Show exhibition hall.
[Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association]

Along with freely producing small and lightweight electric vehicles, he emphasized connectivity that continuously improves the vehicle's condition. This is the concept of connectivity to be applied to future cars. For this, Toyota developed the software platform Arene, which President Sato expects will help keep vehicles always up to date while enhancing their value. The platform collects data during vehicle development and allows faster and more accurate identification of each customer's needs.

He also proposed ways to diversify the usage of vehicles. The IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) 0 concept exhibited during the event is part of this. President Sato explained that when harvesting crops in the suburbs and transporting them to the city, the vehicle can be used for transport, and once in the city, it can quickly transform into a display stand for goods for sale or be used as a coffee shop, food truck, or DJ booth.

Sato Koji, President of Toyota, is explaining the IMV 0 concept car. It is a model that can be used in various ways depending on the purpose.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This is similar to the Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV) actively being developed in our country. President Sato said, "Future mobility will expand its value according to our lifestyles," and "We will continue to bring various mobility options closer to the lives of customers worldwide."

During the event, Toyota showcased the electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) FT-3e concept car and the high-performance electric sports car FT-Se at the center stage, both scheduled for release in the coming years. They also exhibited the small electric concept car Kaiyobako, the Land Cruiser Se under development as a pure electric vehicle, the mid-size pickup truck concept car EPU, and the personal mobility device JUU. The prototype Space Mobility is a mobility device being developed for purposes such as space exploration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.