Toyota to Build Three-Row Electric SUV in America in 2025
Toyota plans to build a three-row electric SUV in the U.S. starting sometime in 2025.The company also plans to introduce 10 EVs globally by 2026, with these next-gen electric models to have double the driving range.A mysterious new Lexus EV was also teased during today’s press conference that featured several prominent executives.
Toyota appears to be working overtime to make up ground in the race to electrify its lineup. During a press conference today in Japan, the company’s executive leadership said the latest plan includes introducing 10 new EVs around the globe by 2026. Among them is a three-row electric SUV that’s slated to start production in the U.S. sometime in 2025.
Built in America
Besides the fact it’ll be built in America—with batteries to be assembled in North Carolina—no other details were revealed about the brand’s future EV SUV. However, it could be similar to the three-row Toyota bZ5X concept that was shown back in 2021. The bZ5X debuted alongside myriad other Toyota and Lexus concepts and coincided with their announcement about plans to offer 30 electric models by 2030.
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Since then, Koji Sato has replaced Akio Toyoda as Toyota’s president and CEO. The move marked a change of direction for the automaker, who had been criticized over its general resistance to EV adoption. In February, Sato tapped Lexus to lead the charge in the company’s reformed plans to prioritize EVs.
Doubling Electric Range
The announcement also mentioned the introduction of a next-generation electric platform planned for around 2026, and today Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima said the company plans to double the driving range of its next-gen EVs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t detailed exactly how the range will double, other than Nakajima’s vague comment that it’ll be accomplished through “far greater efficiency.”
Currently, the longest EPA-estimated range is 252 miles for the Toyota bZ4X; the Lexus RZ450e tops out at 220 miles of estimated range. That suggest future models will have between roughly 440 and 500 miles of range per charge.
New Lexus EV Teased
While it wasn’t directly addressed during the presentation, one of the slides showed a mysterious electric Lexus model. The side profile teased a sharp angles and a rakish roofline, with a small Lexus badge located above the rear wheel arch. The design suggests something between a sedan, a hatchback, and a crossover.
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Whatever the new Lexus EV may be (real or otherwise), it will surely be based on the next-gen platform. It could also feature an interesting new idea that was brought up by Nakajima regarding the ability for drivers to customize “ride feel” in the future. This was described as preferences around how the vehicle runs, turns, and stops. He went on to say this is part of the Toyota’s plans to “create cars that are more fun to drive in terms of both hardware and software.”
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
