Tesla-Toyota Battery Deal For RAV4 EV Concluding By Year-End

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Tesla’s deal with Toyota to supply the automaker with battery packs and motors for the latter’s RAV4 EV will come to a close by the end of 2014 at the same time the electric crossover is expected to cease production.

Bloomberg reports Toyota announced in May of 2012 that it would purchase components from Tesla for 2,600 RAV4 EVs over three years with the possibility of extending the agreement. With word that the EV would cease production at the end of this year, however, Tesla announced in its quarterly filing — where it proclaimed that the deal netted $15 million for Q1 2014 — that related production would draw to a close, as well.

Meanwhile, Toyota spokesman John Hanson claims the EV hasn’t been cancelled, nor has his employer “made any announcement about the relationship or what [Toyota will] do with Tesla in the future.” To date, 1,594 of the $50,000 electric crossovers have left California showroom since 2012.

In the meantime, Toyota will introduce in 2015 a hydrogen fuel sedan based upon the FCV Concept introduced in late 2013, while Tesla — in addition to its own product plans — will boost component production for Daimler AG, who, like Toyota, is an investor in the EV automaker.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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 6 comments
  • Schmitt trigger Schmitt trigger on May 12, 2014

    I'm thinking how this story should make me feel: a) Sad because another green opportunity to save the planet has been lost? b) Happy that a vehicle which was blatantly marketed to appease some Californibureacreats did not even meet its low target? c) None of the above, let's download some porn. I think I'll choose c).

  • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on May 12, 2014

    I found a better, more clear photo. http://content.homenetiol.com/468/57786/640x480/stock_images/5/2014TOY011b_640/2014TOY011b_640_01.jpg It's so derpy looking I'm glad it failed. LOL @ $50K.

  • Gtrslngr Gtrslngr on May 12, 2014

    ........ and heres another little Mercedes insiders news flash bound to hit the presses in the few months or so ; Mercedes Benz /Daimler AG will also be tossing TESLA and their batteries [ that do not work ] under the bus as well . Because like Toyota ... Mercedes has had enough of Mr Musk and Co . So as soon as the contract expires .... bye bye TESLA . Oops ! Yet another source of income that might of staved off TESLA's ongoing bleeding off of profits . ( anyone else getting the feeling the rats are now rapidly abandoning ship [ TESLA ] before the whole thing sinks into the abyss ? ) BWTM - News Flash #2 . OK ... this is in fact very old news . Both Toyota AND BMW in partnership will be actively pursuing Hydrogen fueled cars ..... as will ... Daimler Benz .. most likely on their own but possibly though probably not in conjunction with Nissan/Renault Welcome to the real future gentlemen . And it aint EVs or Hybrids . Its ... Hydrogen ... and you can take that to the bank . Bye bye TESLA , DetroitElectric etc etc . Cold hard facts in the end about to overwhelm pretense , delusion and hype in the name of greed . @ schmitt trigger - I'll go for B and an amended C .

    • BryanC BryanC on May 13, 2014

      Hydrogen cars are merely electric cars with a very expensive battery. We'd be better off building natural gas powered cars rather than reforming natural gas into hydrogen and then using the hydrogen to generate electricity which then powers a motor. There is no hydrogen infrastructure and I doubt there ever will be (unlike electricity, which is ubiquitous). Toyota's experiments with hydrogen are quixotic at best.

  • APaGttH APaGttH on May 12, 2014

    The RAV-4 electric was a complete sales flop. The price point was too high for starters and it was based on the old RAV-4, making it quite outdated, never mind the electric propulsion system. It was sold in a tiny market area, probably to keep CARB happy as a compliance car. No surprise if this is the end of the line. I still believe Toyota got very chummy with Tesla thinking they could snap up its struggling corporate body as it decayed and grab the patents. Things didn't quite go...to...plan. With Tesla clearly viable (I admit - I was wrong, 100% wrong) I suspect there will be a winding down of alliances between the two.

    • Pch101 Pch101 on May 12, 2014

      Toyota formed a relationship with Tesla in order to get rid of the NUMMI plant. Toyota was able to dump the plant at a fraction of the cost that would have been required to convert the property to some other use. In the process, TMC got a compliance car that it needed. The Toyota deal was also critical for Tesla hitting a required milestone for the DOE loans. If Toyota hadn't stepped in when it did, Tesla could have folded. The financial crisis inadvertently proved to be a benefit to Tesla.

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