Toyota is reportedly preparing to begin building the next Corolla generation in China in 2028, using a new platform designed to accommodate battery-electric, hybrid and gas powertrains.
According to a report from Nikkei Asia, production will take place at FAW Toyota, the automaker’s joint venture in China. The move would give Toyota greater flexibility as it looks to compete in the country’s increasingly challenging automotive market.
Toyota first previewed the next-generation Corolla at the Japan Mobility Show in October 2025, revealing a dramatically redesigned concept that moved away from the familiar styling of the current model.
At the time, Toyota outlined plans to offer different powertrains depending on market demand, rather than committing to an exclusively electric future.
The latest report suggests that strategy is now moving closer to production. The new Corolla will reportedly be the first Corolla built on Toyota’s multi-pathway platform, allowing the company to offer several powertrain configurations using the same underlying architecture.
However, while the platform supports fully electric vehicles, there has been no confirmation that a battery-electric Corolla will actually enter production in China.
The reported plans also follow an October 8 agreement between Toyota, FAW and GAC that will reshape their Chinese operations. Under the agreement, GAC will acquire FAW’s stake in FAW Toyota, with the two Toyota joint ventures subsequently cooperating on development, production and sales.
For Canadian buyers, the Corolla remains an important part of Toyota’s lineup. The Corolla Hybrid recorded its best sales year in Canada in 2025, with sales increasing 27.3% compared to the previous year.
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