Toyota's New Electric Sedan bZ3 Begins Production in China, Price Starts at $27,000

Toyota's new electric sedan, bZ3, has officially started production in China. The car is based on the same e-TNGA platform as the bZ4X and has a claimed range of 373 miles (600 km). However, the range estimate is expected to be around 200-250 miles (320-400 km) in reality, which is still impressive given the starting price of just over $27,000.

The bZ3 was developed in collaboration with Chinese automaker BYD and is being produced by joint-venture FAW Toyota. It is built on the e-TNGA platform and similar in size to the Camry. The interior of the bZ3 features a large portrait touchscreen and seating for five. Although Toyota has not provided detailed information on the powertrain, the bZ3 is front-wheel drive, and battery sizes between 49.92 kWh and 65.28 kWh are available. 

Unfortunately, there are currently no plans to bring the bZ3 to the US or Europe. This decision is surprising, given the popularity of the Camry and Corolla in North America. Toyota's sole electric offering in the US, the bZ4X, has not performed well so far. The bZ4X has limited real-world range and underwhelming performance figures, leading to competition from other electric SUVs like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The bZ4X has also faced controversy due to a recall last summer. Reports emerged that wheels were falling off the car, leading to a full recall. Toyota plans to sell only 10,000 bZ4Xs this year, indicating a lack of commitment to electric vehicles outside of China.

Source: electrek