Toyota Officially Announces It Will Build An Electric Vehicle With Tesla

Last month, Toyota shocked us with a triple whammy of an announcement: an investment of $50 million in Tesla Motors, an information-sharing partnership with the startup automaker, and a plan for Tesla to purchase the recently shuttered NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing) GM/Toyota plant in Fremont, California. However Toyota wouldn’t confirm that it was working with Tesla on an actual vehicle — until now. Toyota has officially announced the two are collaborating on a prototype EV — and it will be ready later this year.

So far, Toyota and Tesla are remaining mum on the details. We do know, however, that the prototype will contain Tesla’s lithium-ion battery system along with a body based on a current Toyota model. Tesla Prius, anyone? Or maybe a Tesla Camry? Stay tuned — we’ll update with more information as we get it. In the meantime, watch out for developments with the Tesla Model S, scheduled to go on sale in 2012.


Article Source: Inhabitat

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