Use wechat scan QR code < / P > < p > to share with friends and circle of friends < / P > < p > < / P > < p > April 19 news, Japan < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E4%B8%B0%E7%94%B0 "> Toyota < / a > launched the most successful hybrid vehicle in the world, but in pure < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E7%94%B5%E5%8A%A8%E6%B1%BD%E8%BD%A6 "> in terms of electric vehicles < / a >, it still needs to catch up, especially in the Chinese market. < / P > < p > joint venture between GM and China < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E4%B8%8A%E6%B1%BD "> small electric vehicles produced by SAIC < / a > GM Wuling < a target ="_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E5%AE%8F%E5%85%89 "> Hongguang < / a > Mini EV, which sells for less than 30000 yuan, is very popular in China, the world's largest automobile market, while Toyota has not yet launched its own small low-cost electric vehicle in China. < / P > < p > as the world's largest automobile manufacturer, Toyota will release its solution at the Shanghai auto show on April 19, that is, the new general platform for electric vehicles called e-tnga, which can help to produce various models from small cars to large SUVs. < / P > < p > two people familiar with Toyota's plan said the company will also show off its medium-sized electric SUV concept model based on e-tnga platform, which will be sold worldwide in a few years. < / P > < p > Toyota executives have long called for the launch of small electric vehicles, but the fact that the company first launched a medium-sized SUV shows that the company still faces challenges in producing small, low-cost electric vehicles that are competitive, comfortable and safe. < / P > < p > with the increasing pressure on automobile manufacturers to reduce emissions, Toyota is actively developing models that can compete with Hongguang Mini EV, Tesla high-end cars, Volkswagen and Renault mid-range models, as well as fashion electric vehicles of Chinese start-ups such as Weilai and Xiaopeng on a global scale. < / P > < p > although Toyota Prius hybrid has become a global best seller, its early efforts to develop small electric vehicle EQ have failed. After about 100 EQS were sold in 2012, Toyota abandoned the EQ project because of the concerns about the limitations of electric vehicles, such as high price, short range and long charging time. < / P > < p > EQ is an electric version of Toyota Mini IQ, which costs 3.6 million yen (US $33000), roughly equivalent to the price of its medium-sized Camry. < / P > < p > < b > cost control < / b > < / P > < p > people familiar with Toyota's plan say that a key problem in developing low-cost small electric vehicles is the need to use electric assembly system (including motor, inverter and gear combination), and this technology has not yet reached the level of gasoline powertrain cost. < / P > < p > it's also a big challenge to plug bulky batteries into mini cars. Many electric cars have high floors because of the need to stack batteries underneath, which gives automakers the option to build their cars higher to give passengers plenty of space, according to the source. Otherwise, the interior height of the vehicle is too low, and it may not be comfortable enough. . < / P > < p > Toyota doesn't want to compromise the quality, comfort or performance of its small electric vehicles, but it realizes that it needs to develop expertise to cut engineering costs significantly in order to deliver a car that costs much less than $20000. < / P > < p > that's why GM makes the Hongguang Mini EV, which may sell for as low as RMB 28800. GM's joint venture, SAIC GM Wuling, is China's largest manufacturer of low-cost commercial trucks, starting at about 30000 yuan, and takes advantage of this cost control know-how. "Wuling basically can only replace the gasoline engines on commercial trucks with simple electric assemblies," said Zhang Yu, head of automotive foresight, a consulting firm He expects Hongguang Mini EV and its high-end makaron version to sell 500000 vehicles this year. < p > < p > Zhou Chuan, SAIC's vice president in charge of sales and marketing of Wuling and Baojun automobile brands, said that the company will launch four small electric vehicles of its brands in early 2022, bringing the number of models to 10, to cope with more competitors entering the market. < / P > < p > < b > Toyota challenges < / b > < / P > < p > of course, low cost also means relatively simple design. For example, the Hongguang Mini EV has only one airbag, no passenger airbag, or no airbag on the side. In addition, the car has anti lock braking system, but no stability control technology, which leads to its relatively high, short and thick shape, which makes it easy to roll over when turning at high speed. In response, Zhou explained: "first of all, the product meets all vehicle safety requirements in China. Secondly, Hongguang Mini EV is basically just a commuting tool to help people travel in urban traffic. It is extremely impossible to drive on high speed. " < / P > < p > Hongguang Mini EV was launched in July 2020. Cost effective Chinese consumers and young and fashionable urban residents rush to buy about 100000 electric vehicles every quarter, making it one of the best-selling electric vehicles in China. < / P > < p > many drivers personalize their Hongguang Mini EV, such as new paint and fashionable head and tail lights. Some even use Wuling stickers and badges to customize other brands, such as Audi and BMW. < / P > < p > < b > carbon integration boost < / b > < / P > < p > Toyota's electric SUV will be the first vehicle produced in Japan by ZEV factory, its new zero emission vehicle design department. However, to get the low-cost technology it needs, Toyota turned to Chinese battery and car maker BYD for help through a joint R & D company it set up last year. The plan is to use BYD's expertise to manufacture small electric vehicles and key components including batteries. < / P > < p > but according to a person familiar with Toyota's plans, Toyota still has a great opportunity to use the electric assembly technology called e-axis, which is produced by its subsidiary blue nexus. < / P > < p > Hongguang Mini EV also plays an important role in general motors and SAIC because it generates carbon credits. Chinese automakers need to produce enough new energy vehicles (NEVs) to earn carbon credits to offset their production of internal combustion engines. The success of Hongguang Mini EV means that GM and SAIC have more space to sell carbon credits to competitors, or produce more, bigger and more luxurious gasoline vehicles without punishment. < / P > < p > Zhang Yu of automotive foresight also said that the carbon credit system means that Hongguang Mini EV's pricing is so competitive that it is almost unprofitable. Zhou Chuan of SAIC declined to say whether the Hongguang Mini EV made money or whether it made moneyHow much money did you make from the sale. "We see quite a number of companies coming to us to buy carbon credits from us, but we don't want to reveal who they are," he said < / P > < p > two sources familiar with Toyota's plan said the company does not intend to make a loss on the retail price of small electric vehicles or use carbon credits to improve its competitiveness. A Toyota spokesman declined to comment on whether Toyota has enough carbon credits for China's new energy vehicles or whether it will consider selling them as part of its strategy. (small) < / P > < p >