Toyota is moving closer to producing its smallest electric vehicle, the FT-Me, following a £15 million ($20 million) grant from the UK government’s DRIVE35 program. The pint-sized electric car, measuring just 2.5 meters (98 inches) long, is designed for urban mobility and features a solar roof intended to extend its range.
The funding, managed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, forms part of a £30.3 million ($40.5 million) project, with Toyota expected to contribute the remaining £15 million.
The project involves several partners, including urban delivery firm ELM Mobility and the University of Derby, while Savcor is tasked with designing the solar roof. Toyota estimates the solar roof could add around 20–30 km of range per day, roughly 20% of the vehicle’s total daily driving potential.
Toyota plans to manufacture the FT-Me at its Burnaston plant in the UK, where it currently produces the Corolla. The vehicle is intended to accommodate two passengers and uses a propulsion system that the automaker says consumes roughly a third of the energy per kilometer compared with larger electric vehicles. Toyota describes the micro EV’s design as compact and city-friendly, occupying about half a parking space, and notes its appearance is inspired by a jet helmet.
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The FT-Me is expected to compete with other small urban EVs such as the Citroen Ami, which starts at approximately £7,695 ($10,000) and offers a WLTP range of up to 46 miles. Toyota has not indicated plans to bring the micro EV to the U.S. market.
