Toyota Joins Tesla to Build RAV4 EV

By Logan Utsman on Friday, August 5th, 2011

Toyota Motor Company confirmed that they will enter a joint venture with Tesla Motors, Inc. in order to build the fully electric RAV4. The vehicle will be pieced together at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. plant in Woodstock, Ontario. Tesla will supply the electric powertrain for the RAV4 EV and ship them from their Palo Alto, California factory to Toyota’s Canada operations. The RAV4 EV will then find homes across North America, including the United States.

“The Tesla-Toyota joint development team has agreed that building the vehicle at the Woodstock plant on the same line as the gasoline-powered RAV4, will streamline and simplify the production process and guarantee the highest level of quality control,” said Ray Tanguay, chairman for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.

Toyota issued Tesla approximately $100 million to supply the powertrain. Included in the deal will be the RAV4 EV’s battery, motor, gear box and power electronics. The decision was made after last year when Toyota and Tesla collaborated to convert 32 gasoline RAV4′s into prototype electric vehicles.

Source: Toyota

Gallery

2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Pictures