Toyota to sell fuel cell vehicle in U.S., Europe from 2015

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140625/OEM05/140629935/toyota-to-sell-fuel-cell-vehicle-in-u-s-europe-from-2015



The Toyota FCV keeps the fluidic side curves and pointed nose of the earlier concept.

Toyota to sell fuel cell vehicle in U.S., Europe from 2015
Hans Greimel
Automotive News
June 25, 2014 - 5:25 am ET -- UPDATED: 6/25/14 6:39 am ET - adds link to video

TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s highly-anticipated hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will debut in the Japan market by next April priced around 7 million yen ($69,348) and go on sale in the United States and Europe by the summer of 2015, the carmaker said today.

Toyota unveiled the production version’s exterior design in Tokyo, showing an electric blue vehicle with only subtly toned-down styling from the dramatically curved concept with gaping front air intakes exhibited at the Tokyo auto show last fall.

Toyota said the car, dubbed the FCV, will first go on sale in U.S. markets where the hydrogen refueling infrastructure is developed. It did not give details, but the company is already partnering to build a hydrogen pump network in California, where the car is seen as key to helping Toyota meet the state’s stringent zero-emissions regulations.

The Japanese price of $70,000 is higher than the low estimates dangled by Toyota last fall when it unveiled the concept. At the time, Satoshi Ogiso, managing officer in charge of alternative vehicles, said the company expected to cut the cost of producing the hydrogen fuel stack in half, allowing the vehicle to sell for between $50,000 and $100,000.