An electrical successor to the Toyota Yaris is within the firm’s plans – however now is just not the proper second for it, bosses have informed Autocar.
The supermini is the Japanese model’s greatest vendor within the UK and second greatest in Europe. It bought some 22,000 examples right here final yr, making up round 21% of its gross sales.
When requested a couple of Yaris EV becoming a member of the line-up, product and advertising and marketing boss Andrea Carlucci informed Autocar: “That is the thought, however now it’s not one thing we discuss.
“Now we have intentionally determined to begin [our electric car sales] within the fastest-growing segments [C, D and E]. The proper second will arrive, however this isn’t fairly now.”
Toyota at the moment has a three-strong EV line-up, comprising the brand new C-HR+, up to date bZ4X and Suzuki-made City Cruiser. Not supplementing these SUVs with a smaller mannequin “is a alternative”, mentioned Carlucci.
As for the UK, the reception of the Renault 5 reveals that there’s urge for food for such a automobile right here, agreed UK boss Scott Thompson.
“There’ll come a time and a spot,” he mentioned. “For us, it’s all about the proper automobile, the proper place on the proper time, it truly is. And in the intervening time, the growth you are seeing are the proper segments for Europe for us proper now.”
A Toyota electrical supermini prone to arrive within the latter half of the last decade, provided that the three new EVs the model will launch by the tip of 2026 are hinted to be a pick-up truck, a fastback and an SUV.
When it does arrive, it is anticipated to take the Yaris title, as Carlucci informed Autocar that future Toyota EVs would take “acquainted” names from “present vehicles”, just like the lately revealed C-HR+.
