Chinese Toyota a step closer to Australia

Toyota Hong Kong has confirmed the Chinese-built bZ3X will launch in its territory, with right-hand drive production of the previously mainland-China-only model commencing and placing it right on the doorstep of Australia.

The bZ3X is built in Guangzhou in southern China as part of a joint-venture between the Japanese automaker and Chinese giant GAC, using GAC’s electric architecture and platform as opposed to the bZ4X, which is currently sold in Australia, which rides on Toyota’s in-house e-TNGA architecture.

The bZ3X is a much more affordable than the bZ4X. In China it starts from roughly the equivalent of A$25,000, but for those hoping for a Geely EX5-rivalling bargain, the bad news is the export version landing in Hong Kong will cost significantly more.

The bZ3X will start from the equivalent of A$50,344 in the territory, but the sole variant planned for a right-hand drive debut is a high-spec vehicle with s large 70kWh battery. The Chinese version of this grade is priced at around A$35,000, which places it in the same 15 - 20 per cent price premium that Australian-delivered right-hand drive versions of Chinese cars usually attract.

Even if this were to be the price for the bZ3X in Australia, it would make it a more competitive proposition than the current bZ4X, which starts from $66,000 before on-roads for a base front-wheel drive version.

The bZ3X is a more wagon-shaped SUV, with a large interior space thanks to a relatively long wheelbase. The Hong Kong version is equipped with a 150kW/210Nm front-mounted electric motor, with range stated at 565km although this is to the more lenient NEDC standard.

The 70kWh LFP battery has some limitations, namely just 90kW peak charging speed on DC, with the AC inverter also limited to 6.6kW, making for comparatively slow charging times.

Just because this model is right-hand drive and sold nearby does not guarantee it for an Australian arrival, with other models also imported to Hong Kong including the Alphard and Vellfire luxury people movers, the Sienta and Noah MPVs, and the JPN Taxi purpose-built cab.

Even still, in recent comments to CarsGuide Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley said the company is in discussions to consider Chinese-built models for the Australian market, but has yet to land on a decision.

“It’s not something we would rule out in the future. If we’ve got manufacturing joint operations under the Toyota brand, under Toyota quality, we certainly would never rule it out and we’d be silly to,” he said.

Hanley also noted that factors holding back models like the bZ3X were previously the lack of left- to right-hand drive conversion, but also that any model the brand imported would have to do “compelling volume” in a comment seemingly designed to rule out sedan models offered in China like the bZ3 and bZ7.

Locally, the bZ4X has not been a big success story for Toyota, amassing 596 registrations so far in 2025. This places it well behind the more affordable Kia EV5, which has moved a huge 3594 units, this year’s breakout success story, the BYD Sealion 7 which has clocked an enormous 6596 units, or the updated Tesla Model Y which has seen the nameplate secure over 13,000 units so far in 2025.