Introduction

In an age where electric vehicle hype and endless rumors reign, few pairings engender as much intrigue as the Elon Musk Toyota collab. Twitter is filled with viral tweets, sensational headlines, and YouTube videos with titles stating that a new Elon Musk Toyota-Tesla collaboration is in the works, some even specifying a game-changing $13,800 electric SUV developed by both titans. But are these rumors true? Or is it simply just the latest installment of EVs on the web?

The Elon Musk Toyota alliance is intriguing because it brings together two differing philosophies—Tesla’s nimble, software-centric innovation and Toyota’s careful, efficiency-oriented engineering. Each is a market leader in its own right, and a combination would certainly shake up the worldwide EV competition.

Elon Musk Toyota-Tesla Partnership

Tesla at a time when Elon Musk Toyota startup was still considered a risky bet. The goal? Combine Tesla’s cutting-edge electric powertrain technology with Toyota’s proven platforms and manufacturing expertise.

One of the first concrete fruits of this partnership was the Toyota RAV4 EV. Introduced as a limited-production model, the RAV4 EV was a Tesla-powered Toyota SUV. Elon Musk Toyota was produced to gauge consumers’ appetite for electric SUVs and provided both firms with practical knowledge about EV manufacturing in volume. Tesla gained exposure to a broader base and endorsement from a legacy player, while Toyota ventured into electrification beyond the hybrid.

Elon Musk Toyota collab: Another significant component of the agreement was Tesla’s purchase of the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, which had been co-owned by General Motors and Elon Musk Toyota. Tesla acquired it for $42 million and converted it into its primary factory, which is now called the Tesla Fremont Factory. This one action enabled Tesla to increase production exponentially in subsequent years.

Yet, the alliance didn’t continue. Tesla and Elon Musk Toyota began secretly breaking up in  2014. Toyota discontinued the RAV4 EV sale, and in 2017, it finally sold all of its shares in Tesla. Elon Musk Toyota never explained the reasons, yet analysts point to strategic differences, cultural conflicts, and Toyota’s more gradual rollout of EVs as the probable causes.

Recent Rumors: Where They Started

Recently, gossip about a new Elon Musk Toyota has been the most viral hoax circulating. It is that Tesla and Toyota are collaborating to launch a radical electric SUV at a mere $13,800  —a price that seems too good to be true because, well, it is.

Such speculation is usually created by clickbait websites and channels that feed on loosely connected facts, hyped thumbnails, and unsubstantiated “insider” rumors. Examples of such headlines include “Musk shocks Toyota enthusiasts” or “Tesla–Elon Musk Toyota $13K SUV confirmed.” They are intended to catch attention but have no concrete support from either of the companies.

What’s driving this resurgence of speculation is a combination of nostalgia and timing. With EV prices rising and global competition heating up, consumers are desperate to hear about low-cost alternatives. Couple that with the actual history of a previous Tesla–Elon Musk Toyota alliance (2010–2017), and it’s easy for nefarious actors online to spin old events into new rumors.

The enduring popularity of the two brands also has a role to play. Toyota is still the world’s largest volume automaker, and Elon Musk Toyota collab is still making headlines with every tweet or tech release. The prospect of them getting together again is exciting by its very nature, but for now, there is no evidence to validate these new rumors. The buzz, though fun, is more internet hyperbole than corporate reality.

What Toyota Is Doing in 2025

Toyota isn’t partnering with Tesla today, but its 2025 EV strategy is very real, ambitious, and entirely independent of Musk or Tesla. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes of Elon Musk Toyota:

• A growing BEV lineup: Toyota is expanding beyond its bZ4X flagship, with plans to launch two new U.S.-built EVs in 2025 and seven BEVs by mid-2027. Globally, Toyota expects to release 15 new EV models and aim for 1 million annual BEV sales by 2027, including strategies under its Lexus brand.
• Battery production ramp-up: The Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina site (Liberty, NC) is set to open in 2025 with 14 production lines—10 for BEVs/plug-in hybrids and four for hybrids—eventually producing 30 GWh/year.
• In China, Toyota is collaborating with Shanghai authorities to build a plant targeting 100,000 EVs/year by 2027.
• New BEV models: The upcoming bZ (formerly bZ4X) for 2026 features a 74.7 kWh battery with up to 314 miles of range, upgraded powertrains, and Tesla NACS compatibility.
• Other new models, like the bZ5 and C-HR+, will hit production between 2025–2026.
• No sign of a Tesla/Musk alliance of Elon Musk Toyota: Despite speculation in clickbait headlines, no credible evidence—official announcements or reliable leaks—indicates any renewed partnership with Tesla or Elon Musk. Toyota’s focus is clear: building its own EV empire, powered by internal R&D, new factories, and tech partnerships with names like Panasonic and Idemitsu—not Tesla.

In short, Toyota is executing a bold, in-house EV strategy for 2025 and beyond: launching new models, scaling battery production, and innovating in solid-state tech—but doing it entirely without Tesla or Elon Musk, Elon Musk Toyota collab is not possible.

Musk’s Focus: Tesla’s Independent Push

Elon Musk’s focus in 2025 is firmly on Tesla’s self-reliant, high-tech future—one that leaves little room or need for collaboration with traditional automakers like Toyota. Over the past few years, Tesla has aggressively expanded into advanced technologies that go far beyond conventional EVs.

One of the most talked-about ventures is the Cybertruck, Tesla’s bold and polarizing electric pickup. After years of anticipation, it finally rolled out in late 2023 and continues to evolve with new trims, accessories, and performance updates. It represents Tesla’s aim to redefine entire segments on its terms, not by partnering with legacy players.

Another central pillar of Elon Musk Toyota’s vision is the upcoming Robotaxi platform. He has repeatedly emphasized Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) software and fleet autonomy as game-changers for the brand’s future.

Then there’s Dojo, Tesla’s in-house AI supercomputer designed specifically for training its autonomous driving neural networks. This level of vertical integration—building your chips, computing infrastructure, and software stack—is rare, even among tech giants.

Fact vs Fiction: Final Verdict

It’s time to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Yes, Tesla and Elon Musk Toyota used to partner—but that was more than a decade ago. Between 2010 and 2017, the two manufacturers collaborated on small projects such as the RAV4 EV and common infrastructure such as the NUMMI factory. That relationship broke up years ago and has not been revived since.

As of   June 2025, there is no credible indication of a new partnership. Neither has made public statements, shared joint patents, or even suggested co-developing EVs or platforms. On the contrary, their approaches have gone in very different directions: Elon Musk Toyota is working on its own EV range with internal technology and Asian partnerships, while Tesla is exploring autonomy, robots, and its Dojo supercomputer—all on its own.

So why do these myths resurface?

The reason is misinformation loops. Viral YouTube videos, unsubstantiated blog entries, and social media algorithms live on viral hype. They reuse outdated facts, add sensationalized headlines, and stir up confusion—particularly when the subject is two titans like Musk and Toyota. Sadly, most viewers fail to fact-check or investigate further, perpetuating such myths.

To not fall prey to such hype:

• Search for official press releases or company interviews.
• Verify on credible automotive news sites, not YouTube or Reddit.
• Avoid suspiciously cheap price points (like the viral \$13,800 EV rumor)—if it is too good to be true, it probably is.

FAQs

1. Did Elon Musk, Toyota, and Tesla ever collaborate?

Yes. Between 2010 and 2017, Toyota and Tesla cooperated on several initiatives. Most significantly, Tesla supplied the electric powertrain for the second-generation Toyota RAV4 EV, and Toyota invested $50 million in Tesla and sold it to the NUMMI factory in Fremont, California. The alliance assisted Tesla in ramping up production and provided Toyota with early EV exposure.

2. Is a new Tesla–Elon Musk Toyota SUV being released?

No. Through June 2025, there is no credible announcement or official confirmation of a new Tesla–Toyota SUV partnership. Internet speculation without any foundation in fact or any announcement by a company concerning a jointly developed $13,800 electric SUV has been the basis for rumors.

3. What was the RAV4 EV?

The Toyota RAV4 EV was a battery-powered SUV made in a joint venture with Tesla between 2012 and 2014. It had a Tesla-provided battery and drive package fitted into a standard Toyota RAV4 body. It was offered for sale in small quantities in a few American markets and was dropped as the firms concluded their partnership.

4. Why did Elon Musk Toyota drop the partnership with Tesla?

Toyota never provided an official explanation, but industry analysts cite differences in strategy. Tesla was going full steam ahead toward full electrification, while Toyota was investing in hybrids and fuel-cell technology then. The mismatch in culture and different roadmaps made it hard to maintain the partnership. Toyota also disposed of its remaining stake in Tesla in 2017.

5. Are there any official announcements in 2025?

No. Through mid-2025, there have been no new reports of an alliance between Tesla and Toyota. The two companies each follow different EV strategies—Tesla with autonomy and AI and Toyota with its bZ series and solid-state battery work.