New generation of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle makes its UAE debut at historic global event, underlining Toyota’s drive for carbon neutrality and commitment to a sustainable future
The fully electric vehicle takes between 3 to 5 minutes to refuel and offers a class-leading range of 650 km with zero emissions
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Al-Futtaim Toyota is showcasing its groundbreaking environmentally friendly technology at one of the world’s biggest events, with the new-generation Toyota Mirai making its UAE debut as the official car of the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Powered by hydrogen, the cutting-edge Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) offers a 100% electric driving experience with best-in-class efficiency and zero emissions, underlining Toyota’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and creating sustainable mobility for all.
Chosen as a leading example of craftsmanship and innovation, the state-of-the-art Toyota Mirai arrived at the Japan Pavilion during a special delivery ceremony held recently. The new-generation vehicle will provide an exceptional mobility solution for staff at the Japan pavilion throughout the eagerly anticipated event, which has been attracting huge numbers of visitors since opening its doors to welcome the world at the beginning of October.
“It is a great honor for the Toyota Mirai to be selected as the official car of the Japan Pavilion at this landmark global gathering. The Expo 2020 theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ centers around sustainability, mobility, and opportunity, all of which are aligned with Toyota’s vision of a better world. This also comes in line with the UAE’s ‘Net Zero by 2050’ strategic initiative, which aims to create positive environmental impact,” said Kei Fujita, Chief Representative, Middle East and Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation. “Here in the region, there has been strong interest in the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source, which makes the Mirai’s participation especially relevant. This is one of the many diverse technologies we have been developing as part of our journey to achieve a carbon-neutral society with greater mobility for all.”
Fujita added: “I would like to extend my appreciation to the UAE government for its commitment to sustainability and building a brighter future, together with our loyal customers who continue to inspire us to create ‘ever-better’ cars.”
Toyota’s flagship sedan, the Mirai, is a rear-wheel-drive sports-luxury FCEV that offers a combination of striking design, cutting-edge technology, and premium driving performance. The Mirai’s advanced technology enables the vehicle to produce its own electricity using an onboard fuel cell. First developed by Toyota in 1992, FCEV technology converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to power an electric motor, producing zero emissions with only water as a by-product. The new-generation Mirai offers a class-leading cruising range of 650 km and can be refueled in just 3 to 5 minutes. Its electric motor is capable of generating 134 kW of torque, creating responsive acceleration that can carry the vehicle from 40 to 70 km/h in just 2.8 seconds.
The Japan Pavilion has adopted the theme ‘Where Ideas Meet’ in recognition of how encounters with external influences have played a key role in the development of Japanese culture throughout history, with ideas from around the world embraced and reinterpreted to create something new and uniquely Japanese. In keeping with this concept, the Pavilion’s façade combines traditional Arabesque and Japanese asanoha patterns to create striking designs that reflect the traditional Japanese paper-folding art of origami.
Tomiyasu Nakamura, Commissioner General, Japan Section at the Japan Pavilion, commented: “We are delighted to be here in Dubai and showcase Japanese solutions that build on innovative ideas to create a better tomorrow. Mirai means ‘future’ in Japanese, a name that resonates with the theme of our Pavilion as we are aiming to build a safer, greener, and easier future for all. To achieve this, we must first consider the challenges faced by our country as a lens through which to examine global issues and contemplate what is required to move forward. We are pleased to have Toyota on board as we embark on this inspiring journey and look forward to exploring the exciting possibilities an event of this magnitude creates by bringing people together in a global celebration of human ingenuity.”
The Japan Pavilion’s Toyota Mirai is being fueled via a Mobile Hydrogen station with the support of Air Products, which is stationed in Al Futtaim Motors’ premises in Dubai.
About Al-Futtaim Toyota:
Toyota, a Japanese automotive manufacturer founded in 1937, is the world’s market leader in sales of hybrid electric vehicles. Toyota has been exclusively distributed in the UAE by Al-Futtaim Automotive, part of Al-Futtaim Group, for over six decades, and has been leading the sustainable mobility movement since 2008.
With a large line-up of vehicles ranging from SUV, compact, sedan, coupe, MPV and LCV, as well as a wide range of Hybrid options, Al-Futtaim Toyota is setting new benchmarks for clean motoring in an effort to actively contribute to a lower carbon footprint in the UAE. 2017 saw the introduction of the zero-emission hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai, in a pilot aiming at studying the possibilities of establishing a hydrogen-based, carbon-free society.
Toyota’s line-up features several hybrid vehicles including the sporty, practical and environmentally friendly RAV4, the C-HR, an innovative compact SUV, the seven-seater Highlander which is the brands biggest HEV to date, the powerful and efficient Corolla and the sleek and sophisticated Camry.
In September 2019, after a 17-year wait, Al-Futtaim Toyota launched the new 2020 Toyota GR Supra in the UAE, much to the delight of fans and loyalists across the country. With the all-new fifth-generation model, the legendary name returned to set the roads ablaze with a comeback only fitting of the Toyota Supra story, with the 2021 version launching a year later in October 2020.
In August 2020 Al-Futtaim Toyota shook up the lifestyle pickup segment with the introduction of the all-new eighth-generation Toyota Hilux Adventure. This was the first time ever that the Hilux is available as a retail model in the UAE, meaning that it is no longer limited to dominating the commercial-use sector.
About Al-Futtaim Automotive:
Al-Futtaim Automotive, one of the main five operating divisions within the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, is a conglomerate of motoring-related businesses, franchising some of the world’s most-recognized automotive brands and services.
Operating in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa and empowered by around 9,000 associates, the UAE-headquartered Group’s services span across distribution of new and used vehicles, manufacturing, leasing, and aftersales.
Ranging from passenger cars to SUVs, commercial vehicles, industrial and construction equipment as well as motorbikes and quads, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group offers an integrative customer-centric experience for motorists, fleet operators and contractors alike, and strives to become the leader in tailor-made mobility solutions.
About Al-Futtaim:
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and health; employing more than 33,000 employees in more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, we partner with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands.
Al-Futtaim’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration, integrity; Al-Futtaim continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.
