Toyota is hitting the brakes—slightly—on one of its major EV infrastructure projects in Japan. While the company still plans to move forward with a new battery plant, construction won’t begin as soon as originally expected. The pause comes as Toyota adjusts its EV strategy.

The plant is slated for Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture, and according to local Governor Seitaro Hattori, an agreement on the exact location was supposed to be finalized in April. That timeline has now slipped to sometime in the fall. The facility had been scheduled to start operations in 2028, but the delay could push that date back as well.

Read: Toyota’s Cheapest EV Ever Costs $15,000, Gets 10,000 Orders In 60 Minutes

Toyota is still committed to building the facility, Nikkei Asia reports, but the company is now reevaluating what will actually be produced there. Initially, the plant was intended to manufacture batteries for Toyota’s next generation of electric vehicles, some of which are targeting a range of up to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers).

The shift reflects a broader recalibration of Toyota’s EV ambitions. While global electric car sales are still climbing, they’re not accelerating as fast as some carmakers once projected. That mismatch between forecasts and reality is now prompting the company to rethink its targets.

Back in 2022, Toyota announced it aimed to sell 1.5 million EVs annually by 2026. That number was cut to 1 million in 2023, and most recently trimmed again to just 800,000 units. The company hasn’t abandoned EVs by any stretch, it’s simply adjusting expectations in a market that’s proving to be more complex and less predictable than initially suggested.

Earlier this month, Toyota established a new Chinese subsidiary for Lexus that will develop and build EVs and batteries at a plant in China. The plant will be located in Shanghai and will manufacture several models exclusively for the Chinese market.  

Mazda’s future lineup is shaping up to be exciting, with a new generation of the popular CX-5 and a hybrid rotary-powered sports car in the works. But don’t get too attached to some of its current models, as several are being sent off to the great scrapyard of automotive history, with production scheduled to end before 2025 wraps up.

More: Mazda Slashes $3.3B From EV Plans, Confirms Hybrid SkyActiv-Z Engine For New CX-5

The cars on the chopping block include the Mazda2 supermini, the closely related CX-3 subcompact SUV, the Mazda6 sedan, and the fully electric MX-30 crossover.

The MX-30: A Quick Disappearance

First up is the MX-30, Mazda’s first-ever production electric vehicle, as reported by Creative Trend. It’s not exactly going out with a bang. Set to end production in March 2025, the battery-electric MX-30 never quite found its footing in the market. With a steep price tag and a range that barely made it past the corner store, it struggled to attract attention. And despite being relatively new—just five years old—the car won’t even get a mid-cycle update, let alone a second generation.

However, the rotary range-extender version of the MX-30, the e-SkyActiv R-EV, will live on for the time being, so don’t worry, rotary fans, there’s still a sliver of hope for you. But Mazda’s first attempt at an electric vehicle might be best remembered as an experiment that went a little too far off the rails.

Mazda2: The End of an Era (Maybe)

Next up is the aging Mazda2, which is reportedly nearing its end. The current generation of this small hatchback debuted in 2014 and received facelifts in 2019 and 2023. Its most recent update came in 2024, when it got a new infotainment system for the Japanese market. However, those updates don’t seem to be enough to keep it going, as Mazda is reportedly planning to phase it out before the end of 2025.

More: Mazda Kills 2 Supermini After 11 Years In The UK

Sadly, there’s no word on a direct successor to Mazda’s most affordable model in Japan. The only clue is a trademark filing for the Mazda2e name, which might be used for a future entry-level electric vehicle.

It’s possible that Mazda will step away from the supermini segment for a few years, pushing buyers toward the upcoming small crossover (more on that later). However, European customers can still grab the Mazda2 Hybrid, which is essentially a rebadged version of the Toyota Yaris.

The CX-3: The SUV That Could Have Been

The Mazda CX-3, the subcompact SUV that’s been soldiering on mostly unchanged since 2014, will also meet its end in September 2025. Despite a facelift in 2018 and a handful of other tweaks over the years, the CX-3 has struggled to maintain relevance in an evolving market. It’s already been discontinued in North America and Europe, but it remains available in Japan and select Asian markets.

Luckily for Mazda fans, a successor of the CX-3 appears to be under development. The model has appeared in official teaser sketches earlier this year, revealing a compact footprint and fresh styling with a CX-5-inspired nose and a coupe-SUV stance. We also know that the new generation of the small SUV will be manufactured in Thailand, although it is not clear when it will debut and whether it will be available in Europe or Japan.

Mazda6: The Sedan That Was Just a Little Too Late

Lastly, we have the Mazda6 sedan, a long-time staple in Mazda’s lineup that is also ready to exit stage left. The current generation, introduced in 2012, has seen a couple of facelifts over the years but never managed to gain the traction it needed to keep up with shifting market trends. The Mazda6 said its goodbyes to North America in 2021, bid farewell to the UK in 2023, and was axed from Japan in 2024. Now, it’s also been dropped from the Australian market for failing to meet certain regulations.

More: Mazda6 Axed From Australia, One Of The Few Places It Was Still Available

But don’t mourn the Mazda6 just yet. While Mazda has shelved plans for a new internal combustion engine sedan, the fully electric 6e will serve as an indirect successor of the 6 in Europe and the UK. This Changan-based model is already available in China as the Mazda EZ-6, offering both range-extender and full EV powertrains.

Just days after reports emerged that Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn was close to finalizing deals with two Japanese automakers, unnamed sources report that Mitsubishi is one of the firms involved. If the deal goes through, it could mark a major shift, with Mitsubishi potentially outsourcing EVs production to Foxconn.

For several years, Foxconn has been trying to lower its dependence on consumer electronics and expand into the EV market, viewing it as an important growth driver. It wanted to take a 5% share of the global EV market by 2025 and has previously signed deals with Lordstown, Fisker, and China’s Byton. While it’s yet to achieve the growth it had hoped for, a deal with Mitsubishi could be a major breakthrough for the firm.

Read: Foxconn Gearing Up To Build Four New EVs, Including Two From Japanese Brands

According to Nikkei Asia, Foxconn has been in talks with Mitsubishi for over six months. The company views this partnership as an opportunity to prove its manufacturing capabilities, hoping it will help attract other established carmakers.

Details about which Mitsubishi EVs Foxconn might produce are still unclear. The Japanese automaker is expected to launch a new EV in the US next year, with little confirmed about the model. However, early reports suggest it could be a crossover coupe, which would add another option to the growing EV market.

Foxconn’s Broader EV Plan

Foxconn had expressed an interest in acquiring Nissan late last year, but Nissan would ultimately go on to have discussions with Honda about a potential merger. However, talks fell through in early February. The Taiwanese company is still said to be open to taking a stake in Nissan and will likely try to secure a deal to build the brand’s future EVs.

At this point, Foxconn has plenty on its plate as it looks to play an increasingly important role in the EV market. In addition to working with established brands, it will begin production of its in-house Model B, an all-electric hatchback similar in size to the VW ID.3. It also wants to start building the larger Model C in North America during the fourth quarter of this year.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn has revealed it’s close to inking deals with two Japanese car manufacturers to design and manufacture a pair of EVs. While limited details about these new models are known, they will be brought to life alongside two of Foxconn’s in-house EVs, namely the Model C and Model B.

Foxconn has been ratcheting up its involvement in the car industry for several years now. At one point, it announced it would invest up to $170 million to build Lordstown Motors’ Endurance pickup truck, but that project was later scrapped. It is also said to have expressed keen interest in acquiring Nissan, before the Japanese brand would go on to enter ill-fated negotiations with Honda about a potential merger.

Read: Foxconn Unveils Model C, Model E And Model T EVs With Up To 740 HP

While speaking at an investor conference earlier this month, chairman Young Liu said the company expects to sign agreements with two Japanese firms in the next two months. Foxconn will use its “contract design and manufacturing services (CDMS) business model” in the development of these new EVs.

There’s no word on which two marques Foxconn is talking to. It’s certainly possible that one of them could be Nissan, as a report from early February indicated that after the latter’s merger with Honda fell through, it has expressed its willingness to work with technology companies. Foxconn could be one of them, and teaming up with it would also provide Nissan with a valuable cash infusion.

Foxconn Model C

Foxconn’s Own EVs

While the Taiwanese giant is busy finalizing contract manufacturing deals, at the same time it’s also pushing forward with its own EVs. Focus Taiwan reports that the Model C will enter production in North America during the fourth quarter of this year. The electric crossover was previewed as a concept back in October 2021 and, in concept guise, had a claimed range of 435 miles (700 km). Given it’s been almost three and a have years since the concept’s unveiling, the production model may sport some changes.

Arriving before the Model C will be Foxconn’s Model B, reportedly set to reach the production line in the middle of this year. The Model B was previewed in 2022 and is similar in size to the VW ID.3. It was designed by Pininfarina, is powered by a single electric motor with 230 hp, and has a claimed range of 280 miles (450 km).

Foxconn Model B

The Toyota bZ4x has just received a mid-cycle update, and it looks like its Subaru twin, the Solterra, may soon follow suit. But these two crossovers won’t be the only EVs born from the Toyota-Subaru partnership. In 2026, the automakers are reportedly planning to expand their lineup with a pair of new compact SUVs.

More: Toyota’s New C-HR+ EV May Launch In The US Next Year

In an effort to keep research and development costs manageable, these new compact SUVs are expected to share key components with the e-TNGA platform already used by the bZ4x and Solterra. This includes components like battery packs and electric motors. This collaboration allows both Toyota and Subaru to cut costs and allocate more resources to other projects.

New EV Models Teased by Toyota

Earlier this week, Toyota teased three new EVs that will launch by 2026. These will join the ranks of the bZ4x, C-HR+, and Urban Cruiser in Toyota’s lineup. Two of the teased vehicles seem to be production versions of the EPU pickup and the Land Cruiser SE, both of which were shown as concepts in 2023. This has led to speculation that the third teaser might be the compact SUV that Toyota and Subaru are working on together.

If this is indeed the case, the new EVs are expected to adopt a more traditional SUV shape compared to the bZ4x and Solterra crossovers. The design hints at a profile similar to the upcoming Toyota RAV4, with a sharp nose, roof rails, and a more upright rear end. While the Toyota and Subaru versions will likely share much of their exterior and interior design, each will probably feature a distinctive front end to help buyers tell them apart.

Expanding the EV Market in Key Regions

According to Best Car, these new compact SUVs will be available in Japan, Europe, and the U.S., broadening both Toyota and Subaru’s zero-emission offerings in the compact SUV segment. Unlike the bZ4x and Solterra, which are currently produced at Toyota’s Motomachi Plant, the new jointly-developed models will reportedly be built at Subaru’s Yajima plant in Japan, with production set to start in January 2026.

While Toyota already offers three EVs (bZ4x, CH-R+, and Urban Cruiser) in Europe, the Solterra remains the sole zero-emission offering in Subaru’s global lineup. That will soon change, with this new SUV being one of four electric models Subaru plans to launch in collaboration with Toyota.

Subaru’s Own EV Ambitions

In addition to the jointly-developed vehicles, Subaru has its sights set on launching its first in-house-developed electric vehicle by 2028. These launches are part of a broader effort to have battery-electric vehicles account for half of Subaru’s global sales by 2030, a goal that will likely require a mix of joint and solo ventures, with both Toyota and Subaru continuing to expand their electric offerings over the next several years.