Toyota Highlights Local Hybrid Development at Auto Shanghai 2015

With Auto Shanghai 2015 opening its doors to the public today, Toyota is inviting visitors to experience its full vision of mobility. Featuring 26 vehicles, the Toyota booth showcases an exceptionally wide variety of models, ranging from the FV2 connectivity concept to the cutting-edge Mirai fuel cell vehicle, as well as many models sold in the Chinese market.

Taking center stage, however, are two cars that attest to Toyota's commitment to creating and building cars locally: the Corolla and Levin hybrids equipped with hybrid components developed and produced in China. The debut of these models marks the first time Toyota has researched, developed and produced hybrid powertrain components―in this case, the battery, inverter and transaxle―outside Japan. The components were developed through the efforts of over 260 Chinese engineers at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd., Toyota's R&D center for cutting-edge component technologies, based in Changshu.

Giving his thoughts on the achievement, Toyota Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada―leader of the team behind the first-generation Prius―said: "These cars embody the philosophy behind Toyota's business in China, which is to consistently think about how we can play a useful role here. To me, these two vehicles represent a technological innovation on par with the development of the first-generation Prius."

Uchiyamada also thanked Toyota's partners, suppliers and dealers for helping the company achieve over a million sales in China for the first time, saying: "From production to development and sales, the importance of China in Toyota's global business has been increasing constantly and tangibly."

The Corolla and Levin hybrids will both go on sale in China this autumn.