Prius-Based EVs Are Incoming From Toyota, Mazda And Denso's New Company

The two major car brands have joined forces with a Japanese automotive electronics specialist, and Prius-based electric cars are on the menu
Prius-Based EVs Are Incoming From Toyota, Mazda And Denso's New Company

Toyota, Mazda and drivetrain component manufacturer Denso have agreed to create a new company that will focus on developing desirable electric cars based on the Prius’ chassis.

Called EV C.A. Spirit Co Ltd (mmm, catchy), the company will work behind the scenes on research and development from its base in Nagoya, Japan, rather than building cars with its own name badge.

Prius-Based EVs Are Incoming From Toyota, Mazda And Denso's New Company

Toyota will be contributing its Toyota New Global Architecture to the mix, which allows for modular manufacture and maximum production flexibility. Denso will bring its extensive experience with electrics and electronics. Mazda, meanwhile, will be using its advanced computer modelling techniques to help speed the design and engineering processes along.

There will be equal numbers of engineers from each company, at least to begin with, and we’re told that the financial commitment will be the same from each firm, too. Another point of note is that the three founding brands say that they’d like other manufacturers and suppliers to join the party as things progress.

Prius-Based EVs Are Incoming From Toyota, Mazda And Denso's New Company

Interestingly, the three partner companies say they want to work together to avoid the ‘commoditisation’ of electric cars, which sounds a lot to us like they’re trying to make cars people like us can at least be interested in.

In separate, but related news, Lexus has said it will skip plug-in hybrids altogether and move straight from full hybrids to electric cars and fuel cell vehicles. Technologies developed by EV C.A. Spirit Co Ltd (we may have to just shorten that to EV Spirit) could help Lexus build its first fully electric car.

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Roland

At least they keep the petrol engines.

09/29/2017 - 12:37 |
32 | 1
BenPaye(JDMSquad)(MX5Squad)(LFAsquad)(Subie Squad) (Rotary F

In reply to by Roland

True

09/29/2017 - 12:40 |
3 | 0
Freddie Skeates

No goddamnit, why can’t Mazda build the platform/chassis, and the styling, and then Toyota do the interior and internals

09/29/2017 - 12:43 |
62 | 3

I am really looking forward for whats coming from the EV C.A. Spirit Co., Ltd. :D

09/29/2017 - 18:14 |
2 | 0

its gonna be a recipe for disaster :/, its like having japanese design with italian quality

09/30/2017 - 00:05 |
9 | 0
RustX7 2.0

Ahh, I hope the 🅱️rius looks good

09/29/2017 - 12:57 |
3 | 2
Anonymous

Let’s hope the new car doesnt look like a crumpled up peace of paper
cough cough 2017 Prius cough

09/29/2017 - 13:23 |
12 | 0
KENMERI

Well, at least they’re gonna change the look

09/29/2017 - 13:57 |
3 | 0
aaronF50

Alex’s mazda prius repellent is ironic now

09/29/2017 - 14:28 |
23 | 0
fujiwara

Noooooooo,please not a new and worse version of the Prius

09/29/2017 - 14:29 |
3 | 1
Anonymous

Make a desirable car from a Prius platform? Sounds almost impossible

09/29/2017 - 15:07 |
2 | 0
TheMindGarage

WHY Mazda?!? I trusted you as the only mainstream Japanese manufacturer who knew what they were doing!

09/29/2017 - 15:53 |
8 | 3

Investing with a company known for success in this field is definitely a good decision.

09/30/2017 - 01:59 |
4 | 0
Lucas Tekkan

The prius is already a bad car, evs are not much hated. Prius+EV= instant hate

09/29/2017 - 18:30 |
3 | 0