Back in May, Toyota->ke88 and Tesla->ke1842 announced that they would be working together on the development of electric vehicles. Their partnership in the advancement of this technology would come together by the sharing of Toyota's engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise. As a result of the recent agreement between Tesla and Toyota, the company has announced plans to reveal an electric version of the RAV4 crossover. The new prototypes will be revealed on the US market in 2012 and will combine the Toyota RAV4->ke370 model with a Tesla electric powertrain. Tesla plans to produce and deliver a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for evaluation within this year. The first prototype has already been built and is now undergoing testing.

We have to remind you that earlier today we also reported that Toyota is preparing an all-electric supercar so it seems that this agreement between the two companies has already seen a lot of legway and should prove to be rather interesting. We'll keep you posted to see how they do.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

TESLA MOTORS, INC. (Tesla) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today announced that the two companies have signed an agreement to initiate the development of an electric version of the RAV4 as announced in May of this year by Elon Musk and Akio Toyoda. With an aim to market the EV in the United States in 2012, prototypes will be made combining the Toyota RAV4 model with a Tesla electric powertrain. Tesla plans to produce and deliver a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for evaluation within this year. The first prototype has already been built and is now undergoing testing.
 
In May, Tesla and TMC announced their intent to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. Tesla seeks to learn and benefit from Toyota’s engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise, while Toyota aims to learn from Tesla’s EV technology, daring spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility.
 
TMC has, since its foundation in 1937, operated under the philosophy of “contributing to society through the manufacture of automobiles,” and made cars that satisfy its many customers around the world. TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.
 
Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars for mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components, and is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production.