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Automotive Technology
AUTOS: Toyota, Tesla Plan Electric RAV4
Automakers are partners for the development and production of electric vehicles.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted July 16, 2010   Fremont, CA
An all-electric version of the RAV4 is being developed by Tesla Motors in partnership with Toyota. (Photo: Toyota.)
Toyota and its electric-car partner Tesla Motors have forged an agreement to begin development of an electric RAV4 that will be ready for sale in 2012.

The all-electric version of Toyota’s compact crossover SUV would use a Tesla powertrain similar to those used in the California company’s premium electric cars.

The plan comes after a partnership between Toyota and Tesla was announced in May, with the Japanese automaker buying a $50 million stake in the electric-auto producer. The plan is for the two companies to combine Toyota’s financial might with Tesla’s technical knowhow to develop and produce a lineup of electric cars for consumers.

Part of the deal was for Tesla to acquire the vacant NUMMI assembly plant in Freemont, Calif., where Toyota and General Motors once produced joint products, such as the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.

Tesla, which currently builds the recently updated electric Roadster, is preparing the plant for production of its upcoming Model S electric sedan.

Tesla says it has already built a prototype electric RAV4 that is undergoing testing and plans to deliver a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for evaluation this year.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has driven and evaluated essentially every new vehicle sold in the United States. A lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle, he annually attends and writes about Arizona's famous January collector-car auctions, focusing on Scottsdale’s monumental Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event and other Barrett-Jackson auctions. SPEED.com fans email Automotive Editor Bob Golfen at

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