In November 2014, Toyota Motor Corporation ushered in the future with the launch of the Toyota “Mirai” fuel cell sedan, followed by the Japan start of sales one month later. Toyota recently held a production ceremony to mark the milestone of a new age of vehicles at its Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Japan.
Production first started at the Motomachi Plant in 1959, and over its 56 year history, the manufacturing facility played a central role in realizing the dream of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda: to foster an automotive industry in Japan and benefit society at large.
The plant started life as Japan’s first dedicated passenger car production facility. It has been home to some of Toyota’s most notable models, including the “Publica”, “Corona”, “Cresta”, “Soarer”, “Supra”, “RAV4”, and the Lexus “LFA” supercar.
The former “LFA Works” – where highly skilled craftspeople hand-built each of the 500 series limited Lexus supercars to some of the highest standards in the industry – has now become the home of the Mirai, just over two years since the last LFA exited the factory.
This small but dedicated facility is now charged with producing the hydrogen-powered sedan with the same care and attention to detail, with an estimated three units coming off the production line every day.
For the first time, go behind the scenes to see how the future* is made.
*Mirai is the Japanese for future
Thing is – although there is currently an automotive revolution going on, the cars still look like cars. Only some details may be novel. I have been driving the Hyundai ix35 fuel cell car, it was awesome. The driver does not realize that there is an entirely different energy technology behind this vehicle. Note that this type of Hyundai was and is originally available with a conventional combustion engine. Whereas the new stuff like Toyota Mirai and Hyundai ix35 get their energy from electrochemical systems, and the motor is an electric motor. But you drive it like a normal car and you pump it, fill it like a normal car. It even doesn’t take so long like a battery powered vehicle. You fill say 3 minutes and then you can drive again some 400 – 500 km in normal speed.