Toyota Unveils Investment Plan in EV Charging Network Ionna

Toyota has announced its participation in Ionna, a collaborative effort with seven other automakers to assist in establishing a new electric vehicle (EV) charging network throughout North America.

This investment will enable Toyota and Lexus customers to utilize Ionna's upcoming network of DC fast chargers, which are scheduled to be rolled out later this year.

Toyota Announces Investment in Ionna

Toyota has partnered with seven other automotive manufacturers to invest in Ionna, supporting the development of its advanced charging infrastructure for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across North America.

This collaboration will grant Toyota and Lexus drivers access to Ionna's expanding public network of DC fast chargers. Ionna aims to launch a minimum of 30,000 charging ports across North America by 2030, incorporating both NACS and CCS connectors to accommodate all types of BEVs.

Ted Ogawa, President and CEO of Toyota Motor North America, supported the collaboration, highlighting the importance of advancing BEV adoption and bolstering customer confidence in the technology.

He emphasized that Toyota and Lexus customers will benefit from enhanced access to Ionna's growing charging infrastructure in the region. The initial rollout of DC fast charging stations is scheduled for 2024, with further expansion planned throughout the decade.

Seth Cutler, CEO of Ionna, welcomed Toyota's participation, stating that the collaboration reflects a shared vision for the future of electric mobility in North America. He emphasized their mutual commitment to upholding high standards of quality, reliability, and customer experience.

Cutler characterized this partnership as a significant step forward in their joint mission to revolutionize EV charging and promote sustainable transportation across the continent.

Toyota Joins Other Leading Manufacturers

For Toyota, supporting Ionna represents a strategic move to contribute to the nationwide expansion of public charging infrastructure, which involves a collaborative effort among eight OEMs.

Toyota joins other leading manufacturers such as BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis to support this initiative. Toyota currently provides two mainstream BEVs in the US and Canada: the Toyota bZ4X and the Lexus RZ.

The company recently unveiled plans to introduce two new three-row BEV SUV models manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI).

Toyota plans to increase its global lineup of BEVs to include 30 models across the Toyota and Lexus brands by 2030, with a target annual production capacity of up to 3.5 million BEVs.

Woven City of Toyota

In related news, Toyota's "Woven City," an innovative "smart city" initiative located near Mount Fuji, Japan, is preparing to welcome its inaugural residents.

This urban environment is a "living laboratory" where researchers can experiment with and enhance emerging technologies such as hydrogen power, autonomous vehicles, AI, and robotics. Read more about this story here.