Use wechat to scan QR code < / P > < p > to share with friends and circle of friends < / P > < p > < / P > < p > according to Japanese auto industry insiders, < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%89%B9%E6%96%AF%E6%8B%89 "> Tesla < / a > and < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E4%B8%B0%E7%94%B0 "> Toyota < / a > is considering joint development of small electric SUV platform. The two sides began to evaluate the relevant cooperation last year and are now approaching the final stage. < / P > < p > according to the agreement, Toyota will provide Tesla with a vehicle manufacturing platform, while Tesla will provide Toyota with some electronic control platform (ECU) and software technology carried on its vehicles. When a partnership is established with Toyota, Tesla will be able to use Toyota's platform to launch a compact electric SUV at a lower cost. In addition, Tesla's sales in Japan are likely to grow significantly, currently about 1000 vehicles a year. < / P > < p > in September 2020, Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive, said at his "battery day" event: "we will launch a $25000 compact affordable < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%94%B5%E5%8A%A8%E6%B1%BD%E8%BD%A6 "> electric vehicles < / a >" However, many experts believe that Tesla will find it difficult to find a way to sell electric cars at such a low price. In particular, Tesla launched model 3 in 2017, model y in 2020, and cybertruck and semi truck. < / P > < p > at the same time, Toyota can also use Tesla technology to significantly reduce the resources and time spent on the innovation of automobile integrated electronic control platform and operating system (OS). In other words, through bilateral cooperation, Tesla can reduce the cost of developing small electric SUVs, while Toyota can reduce the cost and deadline of developing ECU and OS. This will shorten the time for both sides to make up for their own shortcomings and enable them to focus more on their own advantages. < / P > < p > Tesla and Toyota have also cooperated before. Both sides agreed to jointly develop electric vehicles in 2010 and launch Toyota RAV4 electric vehicles equipped with Tesla battery system in 2012. However, due to poor sales and other reasons, the alliance between Toyota and Tesla ended in 2017. However, the close relationship between musk and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has been maintained, leaving room for further cooperation between the two companies in the future. < / P > < p > Tesla's current factory in Fremont, California, also has a close relationship with Toyota. The facility started as a GM assembly plant and was later operated by NUMMI, a GM Toyota joint venture. Tesla acquired the ownership of the plant in 2010. In addition to obtaining a large number of production facilities, it also inherited various production technologies. < / P > < p > Toyota sold 9.53 million cars last year, surpassing Volkswagen, and returned to the top of the sales list after five years. Toyota, Isuzu and its truck subsidiary Hino plan to speed up the electrification and automation of commercial vehicles. Prior to that, Toyota also established hydrogen fuel cell development joint ventures with five Chinese automobile and technology companies. The hydrogen fuel cell system jointly developed by them will be installed on trucks and buses in China from 2022. In addition, Toyota and its competitors < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E9%A9%AC%E8%87%AA%E8%BE%BE "> Mazda < / a >, Suzuki, etc. cooperate to achieve economies of scale related to electrification and automatic driving. < / P > < p > at present, Tesla's market value is about $590 billion, which is still the world's highest car company. Tesla is particularly keen on economies of scale, with only half a million cars sold as of last year. If an alliance is established with Toyota, Tesla will be able to gain a strong manufacturing force to expand the production capacity of electric vehicles with faster speed and lower cost. (small) < / P > < p >