Toyota electric vehicle news: March 2023

If you’ve been paying attention at all, you know by now that an all-new Toyota full electric vehicle is finally up for grabs at a dealership near you: the 2023 Toyota bZ4X. However, our Orlando Toyota dealership has even more news to share in the world of Toyota electric vehicles – here’s what’s been going on in this sphere as of late.

What’s new in the world of Toyota electric vehicles?

Toyota and Lexus are developing an all-new EV-only platform. It’s officially been announced that Toyota and Lexus are back at work creating an all-new platform… but this one will be solely for Toyota electric vehicles. As of right now, Toyota EVs sit on the e-TNGA platform, which is a slightly modified version of the acclaimed and existing TNGA platform. However, with this particular platform, Toyota is having a hard time matching or exceeding the efficiency of cars like Tesla. The platform also limits the size of the battery pack, which means a shorter range. A new platform means an extended range and the ability to create new prototypes of cars. It looks like this new platform will be officially in production by 2026, so we’ll keep you updated.

Toyota is rethinking its long-term EV strategy. In other Toyota news, Akio Toyoda – the CEO of Toyota – stepped down from his post in January. His replacement, Koji Sato, is a big fan of EVs and is making the push for Toyota to integrate more of them into their normal lineup. Supposedly, Toyota recently disassembled a Tesla Y model to get a better idea of the types of manufacturing techniques that the EV giant is using inside of their vehicles. (It’s a pretty common practice among automakers.) What they found may affect their design of the aforementioned new platform for Toyota full electric vehicles, and could lead to many more EV additions to the lineup.

A new bZ3 has been introduced in China. We’ve talked before about different bZ models and how Toyota’s ultimate goal is to create a bZ – Beyond Zero – umbrella with a variety of Toyota full electric vehicles under it. All we have in the US right now is the 2023 Toyota bZ4X and a new bZ SUV concept that was recently unveiled. In China, however, a new bZ3 model was recently introduced to the market. The sedan is a collaboration between Toyota and BYD (a global EV company) and it’s the second official model in the bZ lineup. The bZ3 EV is built on the e-TNGA platform but uses a lithium-ion battery, motor, and electric control system all designed and manufactured by BYD, which means a range of around 372 miles. This Toyota electric vehicle has a starting MSRP of around $27,700 USD. We don’t know that we’ll see it at Toyota of Orlando anytime soon, but we do know the bZ lineup will continue to expand and provide our customers with more Toyota full electric vehicle options.

Toyota of Orlando has all the EV info you need

Have questions about Toyota electric vehicles or want to see the 2023 Toyota bZ4X yourself? Call us today – Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. You can also stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.

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