Gasgoo.com (Shanghai May 8) - Toyota is focusing more of its energy on the Chinese market, with CEO Akio Toyoda announcing that the manufacture will bring over 20 new models to the country within the next three years, Beijing Business Today reported. Mr. Toyoda made the announcement on the floor of last month's Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, where Toyota, along with its joint ventures FAW Toyota and Guangqi Toyota, showed off over 50 different key models.
Mr. Toyoda (pictured) was especially proud of the advances his company has made in the field of new energy vehicles. "For over 20 years Toyota has been researching environmentally friendly technology," he boasted, adding that the manufacturer's current lineup of hybrid concept vehicles has laid a solid foundation for work on pure electric vehicles in the future. The manufacturer has taken attention of the popularity of plug-in hybrids in China and is planning to enter the segment within the year. Toyota is continuing to conduct testing for pure EVs.
Earlier in March, Toyota announced its first strategic business plan for the Chinese market. According to Dong Changzheng, executive deputy manager of Toyota China, the plan, known as 'Yundong', aims to bring advanced technologies to the country, improve domestic management and marketing systems, and introduce products "that touch the hearts of Chinese consumers and are beyond their expectations." The Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing (China) R&D Center in Changshu, Jiangsu will play a key role in making the plan a reality.
