Toyota to build electric SUV in Canada

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Co will build its first electric vehicle produced outside Japan in the Canadian province of Ontario as part of a multimillion-dollar public-private project announced in July.

The automaker will build the vehicle -- an electric version of the RAV4 SUV -- at its plant in Woodstock, Ontario, the Canadian government said in a release on Friday.

Toyota plans to invest as much as C$545 million ($558 million) in the overall project. Known as Operation Green Light, the plan includes upgrades at other Toyota plants in Ontario, the country's industrial heartland.

The Canadian government will chip in C$70.84 million toward C$506 million-worth of Operation Green Light, with Ontario providing another C$70.84 million toward the project's C$545 million total.

The RAV4 venture is a joint project with Tesla Motors Inc. The compact crossover electric vehicles (EV) will be built on the same line as the gasoline-powered RAV4 at the Woodstock plant, about 135 km (84 miles) southwest of Toronto.

"It's a very significant vehicle for Toyota," said Jesse Toprak, an analyst at automotive website Truecar.com.

"This is the first full EV vehicle that is going to be sold in volume and the success of this vehicle is more or less going to set the pace of EV sales for not only Toyota, but also the industry."

A big appeal of the EV RAV4 is that it is going to be the first fully electric SUV, which is a segment that is product-hungry, Toprak said.

Toyota will pay Tesla around $100 million to supply the electric powertrain, which includes the battery, motor, gearbox and power electronics for the RAV4 EV.

The electric powertrains will be built at Tesla's production facility in Palo Alto, California, and then shipped to Woodstock for final assembly in the vehicle.

Canadian governments have a history of supporting automakers operating in the country. Vehicle manufacturers and auto parts makers employ thousands of workers in Canada, mostly in Ontario, its industrial heartland.

"We worked hard to become North America's number one producer of cars," Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said. "To stay on top, we need to produce the next generation of cars that use clean technology."

Canada's federal and provincial governments joined with the U.S. government in providing billions of dollars in loans to keep the industry afloat as the global economic crisis led to a steep falloff in car sales worldwide.

Toyota said details on U.S. pricing and distribution of the electric RAV4 would be announced later. A decision about sales in Canada has not yet been made.

($1=$0.98 Canadian)

(Reporting by John McCrank; editing by Janet Guttsman and Rob Wilson)

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Chevrolet Canada Begins Taking Orders for Award-Winning Volt

OSHAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 2, 2011) - Starting today, participating Chevrolet dealers in seven key launch markets across Canada will begin taking orders for the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Volt. With an MSRP starting at $41,545, the Chevrolet Volt is the industry's first electric vehicle with extended range capabilities. Unlike other electric vehicles in the market, the Chevrolet Volt will never leave anyone stranded with a depleted battery.

"The Chevrolet Volt is an award-winning, leading technology recognized as the only electric vehicle that can meet all your driving needs," said Kevin Williams, president and managing director at GM of Canada. "The Volt delivers it all: dramatic greenhouse gas reductions, a revolutionary propulsion system, progressive styling, spirited driving dynamics, and industry-leading safety, premium amenities, and user-friendly technologies."

The Chevrolet Volt was recently named 2011 World Green Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show. Prior to receiving this honour, the Volt had already captured many major awards in North America, including:

North American Car of the Year Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year Green Car Journal's 2011 Green Car of the Year AUTOMOBILE Magazine 2011 Automobile of the Year Car and Driver 10Best Popular Mechanics 2010 Breakthrough Technology Ward's 10 Best Engines, recognition for Volt's advanced powertrain system

The Volt will initially be available to retail customers in the marketing areas for Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Oshawa, Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal, and Quebec City in the third quarter of this year. Within twelve months of the retail launch, Volt will be available at dealerships nation-wide. It will be offered in one very well-equipped standard trim level, along with two option packages: a Premium Trim Package and a Rear Camera and Park Assist Package.

The Volt is in a class by itself

The Chevrolet Volt is not a hybrid. It is a one-of-a-kind, all-electrically driven vehicle designed and engineered to operate in all climates, with a range of up to 580 km. Powered by GM's revolutionary Voltec propulsion system, it consists of a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric drive unit that provide pure electric range between 40 and 80 km, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature. A 1.4L gasoline-powered engine extends the range up to an additional 500 km on a full tank of fuel by operating the vehicle's electric drive system until the car can be plugged in and recharged or refueled. This distinguishes the Volt from electric-only vehicles, which cannot be operated when recharging is not immediately available – such as during a power interruption or on a long-distance trip.

"The Chevrolet Volt makes the electric driving experience as productive, efficient, intuitive, safe and fun as any premium vehicle its size in the market today," said Marc Comeau, vice-president of sales, service, and marketing at GM of Canada.

Every major element of the Volt was designed and analyzed for efficiency, including its highly aerodynamic exterior, lightweight wheels, specially designed tires, energy-saving premium stereo system, and more. This attention to detail makes the Volt one of the most aerodynamic and energy-efficient vehicles in the market.

The Volt connects with owners 24/7

There is much more technology inside the Volt than its electric propulsion system. Intuitive features such as high-resolution displays, connectivity and the ability to monitor and control vehicle functions remotely redefine how owners interface with their vehicles.

Touch-control switch system on the center console High-resolution, seven-inch, full-color LCD reconfigurable Driver Information Center display. The display shows electric-only range, fuel economy, extended-range, trip information, tire pressure information and other key vehicle messages. High-resolution, seven-inch, full-color, center stack-mounted touch screen display that serves as the interface for infotainment and cabin climate controls. An Efficiency (Leaf) switch accesses energy usage, power flow and charging screens – all easy to use and understand. Charge modes are customizable according to need and electricity rates for efficient programming and lower costs. A key fob that allows drivers to remotely start the vehicle and precondition the cabin based on outside temperatures An exclusive OnStar Mylink mobile app that enables owners to engage with the Volt functions using a smart phone.

Volt warranties bring value and peace of mind

Volt owners receive outstanding battery and vehicle limited warranty coverage. In addition to the eight-year/160,000 km limited warranty on the Volt's 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, Chevrolet offers:

Three-year/60,000 km bumper-to-bumper coverage Five-year/160,000 km roadside assistance and courtesy transportation Five-year/160,000 km limited gas engine coverage Six-year/160,000 km corrosion protection coverage.

About Chevrolet in Canada

Founded in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. From today's Cruze Eco which consumes just 4.6 L/100 km on the highway to the Volt coming this fall, which provides up to 80 km of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 500 km of extended range, Chevrolet offers gas-friendly to gas-free solutions. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse and a host of new, smaller, highly efficient models to come including the all-new Orlando and Sonic (fall 2011) and Spark (2012). Chevrolet also provides iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro as well as dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.ca or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chevroletcanada.

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