Toyota BZ4X 2026 News

Toyota’s latest collaboration with state-owned Chinese carmaker GAC is off to an impressive start with the launch of the pure-electric bZ7 large, fast-back-style sedan.Vice President of Sales for the GAC Toyota’s joint-venture Peng Baolin has confirmed the company booked over 3100 formal orders for the car within one hour of its official on-sale.While other recent newcomers have claimed even stronger initial interest (hello, 15,000 domestic Xiaomi SU7 sales in 30min), it’s a positive response to a critically important model.With a strong hint of Camry around the car’s face and other elements echoing the smaller bZ4X we already know in Australia, the single-motor, rear-wheel drive bZ7 is a substantial machine at just over 5.1m in long, close to 2.0m wide and 1.5m tall with a generous 3020mm wheelbase.Offered with two LFP battery sizes (71.35kWh and 88.13kWh) across five model grades, the bZ7’s power comes from a 207kW Huawei-sourced motor with claimed ranges of 600km, 700km and 710km, in line with the more lenient CLTC test protocol.A 3C fast-charging rate is claimed to deliver 300km of range in 10 minutes.Priced at ¥147,800 (~A$31,300) for the entry-level 600 Pro up to ¥199,800 (~A$42,300) for the flagship 710 Ultra, specification options include 20-inch wheels, front and rear seats with ventilation, heating and massage functions, the Huawei ‘HarmonyOS 5.0’ smart cockpit and ‘dual-chamber air suspension’ working in concert with an intelligent road surface pre-scanning system.Upper-level Lidar-equipped models boast one Lidar, five millimetre-wave radars, eleven high-definition cameras and 10 ultrasonic radars.It’s worth noting GAC Toyota also produces the smaller bZ3X electric SUV uniquely for China and Toyota Australia’s recently retired Vice President of sales and marketing (now Senior Executive Advisor) Sean Hanley had previously told CarsGuide the company has discussed the possibility of importing Chinese-made Toyotas to Australia.“We’ve certainly spoken about it we’ve not done any formal study to support that cause for Australia at this point,” said Hanley. “Having said that, 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.“But if you’re going to convert left- to right-, you got to have some compelling volume,” he said.

Toyota has announced details of the bZ4X Touring electric mid-size SUV in Japan, which is an expanded version of the standard mid-size SUV.It is significantly longer than the standard BZ4X, measuring at 4690mm long, while it is otherwise dimensionally similar, with a 2850mm wheelbase. The all-wheel drive variant of the car has a dual motor system, which produces 280kW, meaning it can shift from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds.The new SUV's 74.69kWh battery offers a top-end driving range of 734km according to Japanese specifications, while charging up to 80 per cent takes just 28 minutes. This represents a noticeable improvement in both power output and driving range over the standard bZ4X currently sold in Australia. The Touring version of the bZ4X has a similar exterior design to the regular bZ4X, and rides on 20-inch wheels. The interior is equipped with a 14.0-inch central touchscreen display, along with a floating digital driver display. There are two wireless phone charging pads in the centre console of the car. The new Touring version will start from 5.75m Yen in Japan, which is around A$52,000, while the all-wheel drive variant starts from 6.4m Yen, or roughly A$58,000.Expect this new version of the bZ4X to be a bit more expensive than its Japanese list price when it comes to Australia in the second quarter of this year, as export versions usually attract a significant premium over the Japanese pricing the time they make it here.However, it will give Toyota a new and larger rival to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6, as the Japanese brand looks to make a larger impact on the EV SUV space.In Australia, the standard bZ4X starts from $55,990 (before on-road costs), after Toyota slashed its price late last year by more than $10,000, down from $66,000.This new bZ4X Touring, which is built alongside its Subaru sister car the Trailseeker in a Subaru factory, is already confirmed to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2026. Stay tuned for more updates imminently.

Japanese automakers are facing a future-threatening crisis that threatens their very survival, says Toyota's global CEO Koji Sato, speaking in his role as chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association .As reported by US industry title Automotive News, one of the world's most important automotive CEOs has unveiled a seven-point plan to ward off new challengers, principally from China, before calling on Japanese auto makers to unite in the face of the challenge."The question is how we can identify Japan’s winning strategies,” the executive said. “To survive the current difficult environment and grow as a mobility industry, I believe it is essential for the entire auto sector to unite and enhance our international competitiveness.”Mr Sato has identified seven major challenges facing the Japanese industry, and how to combat them, and has called on all members of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association to support the "plan of action".Step one in the plan is to lock down a stable supply of rare earth materials and lithium, given Japan’s dependence on their import. That puts the country on a collision course with China, who has exerted influence over supply chains.Step two is to forgo an EV-only approach to its future, with Toyota’s long-touted “multi-pathway approach” that focuses on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure-petrol powertrains in the mid-term. Toyota is also a supporter of hydrogen fuel cell technology.Step three is to invest in the most circular economy possible, linking brands together in tracing data and componentry.Step four is to take a lead out of Korea and China’s books, with both countries only too happy to embrace international expertise, be it in design or engineering. The plan highlights the challenge of attracting international talent to Japan, and insists that must change, especially in an era of software-heavy vehicles.Step five is to chase-down Tesla in vehicle autonomy - a field Japan was once a leader in - by removing regulatory roadblocks and introducing a locked-in deadline for full autonomy.Point six is to reform the taxes applied to vehicle sales in Japan, which can add up to thousands of dollars over the ownership cycle of a vehicle.And finally, point seven is to lower production costs by commonising componentry at scale, and building efficiency into the supply chain.“I believe it’s crucial to focus on how we can revitalise Japan’s automotive industry while building a sustainable business model,” Mr Sato said at a JAMA function. “I will strive to ensure Japan’s automotive industry can play a solid role within the global landscape.”

The electric car onslaught will continue in 2026 with the announcement of more than 20 new models in Australia.

Meet the Chinese Toyota locked-in for right-hand drive markets.