Toyota's Next Corolla Goes Electric — and It Will Be Built in China

Toyota is set to build its next-generation Corolla in China starting in 2028, and the first version of the 60-year-old nameplate to be offered there will include a pure electric variant, according to Nikkei reporting. It is the most concrete signal yet that Toyota intends to electrify its best-selling nameplate in the market where it is losing ground fastest.

Related: Toyota Canada Posts Q3 Electrified Sales Record · BYD's Q3 Profit Jump as EV Exports Double

One nameplate, three powertrains

The Corolla has been on sale since 1966, with more than 57 million units sold worldwide — the most of any vehicle in Toyota's history. When CEO Koji Sato revealed the next-generation Corolla Concept at the Japan Mobility Show last October, he framed the refresh around keeping it "a car for everyone": a battery EV, a hybrid, and a gas-powered version, all sharing one new "multipathway" platform that also underpins several Lexus models.

Per Nikkei, production of the next-gen Corolla begins in 2028 through FAW Toyota Motor, Toyota's joint venture with Chinese state-owned FAW Group. Building in China is expected to cut costs and speed up development and output for the local market.

What the numbers say so far

• Production start: 2028, at FAW Toyota in China; the next-gen Corolla is expected to debut as a 2028 model year
• EV range: the Corolla EV is expected to come in single- and dual-motor configurations with a driving range of at least 250 miles (about 400 km)
• Hybrid: a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor, roughly 134 horsepower, estimated 10% to 20% more efficient than the current Corolla
• China sales context: Toyota's China sales have dropped 23%, marking the seventh straight month of declines as demand for gas and hybrid models weakens against local EV competitors

Why this is a turnaround play

In a July NHK interview, chairman and former CEO Akio Toyoda said the company is being forced to adapt or it "cannot survive" amid new Chinese competition and technology. The company is restructuring both of its joint ventures — FAW Toyota and GAC Toyota — to streamline operations and introduce more advanced technology in China, and it plans to build extended-range EVs under the Lexus brand there starting next year.

Toyota has not yet revealed battery, powertrain, or pricing details for the Corolla EV. The next-gen Corolla is expected to stay close to the concept, which takes a sleek, almost sports-car-like look that is barely recognizable as a Corolla except for the badge on the rear.

What it means for Canadian buyers

There is no indication the Corolla EV will reach North America at launch — the China-first strategy targets the market where Toyota needs it most. For Canadian shoppers, the Corolla remains a gas/hybrid nameplate for now, and Toyota Canada's electrified lineup is currently led by the bZ4X, the RAV4 PHEV, and the 2027 C-HR BZ. But electrifying the Corolla — the car most Canadians know — is a signal about where mainstream, affordable EVs are heading.

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