Core Insights - GAC Toyota officially launched its "Oil-Electric Dual Strong" strategy during the 2025 Guangzhou International Auto Show, introducing the new models Vellfire and Platinum 7, which aims to dispel rumors about ceasing fuel vehicle production and marks a shift from the long-standing "sister car" strategy [2][4] - The company aims to achieve a production and sales target of one million units by 2028, with a focus on differentiated product offerings to enhance competitiveness [2][4] Market Context - The Chinese automotive market is transitioning from an incremental growth phase to a saturated market, with domestic brands and new energy vehicles (NEVs) rapidly gaining market share, leading to a 16% year-on-year decline in retail sales of joint venture fuel vehicles in 2024 [3] - In contrast, the NEV market in China saw a 40.7% year-on-year growth in retail sales, with domestic brands achieving a penetration rate of 77.9% by October 2025 [3] Strategic Adjustments - GAC Toyota is moving away from the "sister car" model due to its homogenization issues and is focusing on product differentiation, as evidenced by the introduction of the Platinum 7, which is developed by Toyota's Chinese engineering team and will not have a corresponding version from FAW Toyota [4] - The new Vellfire is the first model to utilize Toyota's new electronic architecture, allowing for continuous over-the-air (OTA) updates, addressing previous limitations of traditional fuel vehicles [4] Future Goals - GAC Toyota has set ambitious production and sales targets, aiming for over 800,000 units in 2026 and over 10% sales growth in 2027, with a significant increase in the proportion of NEV sales, targeting over 20% in 2026 and over 40% in 2027 [4] Industry Expert Opinions - Analysts suggest that the "sister car + channel expansion" strategy, while effective in the growth phase, is less viable in the current market, advocating for a focus on refining fuel vehicles and innovating NEVs [5] - Experts emphasize the need for joint venture automakers to accelerate electrification and enhance local collaborations to navigate challenges posed by slow transitions and competition from domestic brands [5]
告别“姊妹车”内耗,广汽丰田想要重回百万产销量
Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-11-23 10:07