Go behind the scenes of the creation of the next-generation 2027 Toyota Corolla - but what is a BYD doing there?

Toyota has released a new behind-the-scenes documentary showing the development of its next-generation Corolla, offering a rare look at the people responsible for planning one of the world's best-selling cars.

Published on November 1, 2026, through Toyota's official Toyota Times YouTube channel, the video follows employees working in a department known internally as 'Z', which coordinates vehicle development across design, engineering, manufacturing and sales.

The documentary provides a look at how Toyota manages the development of an entirely new model, particularly as the automotive industry becomes increasingly competitive.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Toyota has allowed cameras into the development programme for the upcoming Corolla.

Earlier in July 2026, Japanese broadcaster NHK aired a documentary titled Inside Toyota, which followed the same next-generation Corolla project.

That programme highlighted the challenges facing Toyota as manufacturers such as Tesla and BYD continue introducing new technologies and vehicles at a considerably faster pace.

Interestingly, BYD was specifically identified as an example of a manufacturer capable of introducing major model changes in approximately two years, placing additional pressure on Toyota's traditional vehicle development process.

Toyota, meanwhile, is working on a new platform capable of accommodating petrol, hybrid and fully electric powertrains, while also looking for ways to shorten overall development time.

The latest Toyota Times documentary offers another perspective on these efforts, concentrating on the role of product planning and the coordination required between the various departments involved in bringing a car to production.

The video also includes glimpses of a heavily obscured development vehicle believed to be associated with the next Corolla. However, its final production design has not been officially revealed.

Toyota previously previewed its future direction with the Corolla Concept at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, and was also seen at KLIMS earlier this year.

However, Toyota has yet to announce the production specifications, launch date or Malaysian availability of the next-generation Corolla. The Corolla nameplate celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.