Reuters reveals Toyota turns to Chinese tech to reach its electric holy grail

Reuters revealed how Toyota Motor Corp will launch an all-electric small sedan in China late next year, having turned to local partner BYD for key technology to finally make an affordable yet roomy runaround. Reuters sources familiar with the plans described the car as an electric holy grail for Toyota, which has struggled for years to come up with a small EV that is both competitive on cost in China and doesn’t compromise on comfort. Reuters sources said the breakthrough was chiefly down to BYD’s less bulky lithium-iron-phosphate Blade batteries and its lower-cost engineering know-how – a turning of the tables for a Chinese company whose popular F3 saloon was inspired by Toyota’s Corolla back in 2005.