In China, FAW and Toyota have officially unveiled their much-anticipated first electric sedan. The electric vehicle (EV) dubbed bZ3 competes with Tesla Model 3, Changan Shenlan SL03, Volkswagen e-Golf, and other similar electric vehicles.
Toyota collaborated with China’s FAW Group and BYD to develop its new EV. The bZ4X, the company’s first electric SUV, was created in collaboration with GAC Motor.
Toyota currently intends to launch the bZ3 only in China, with a starting price of around $28,000 (Rs6.1million).
Details
The Toyota bZ3 uses BYD’s Blade LFP battery pack, though the battery size is unknown. According to the manufacturer, the car will have a range of more than 600 kilometres on a single charge.
The bZ3 will have two single-electric motor options: one that produces 183 horsepower (hp) in the lower trim level and another that produces 244 hp in the higher trim level. The rear wheels are powered by electric motors in both models.
All Toyota Safety Sense features, such as lane-keeping assistance, collision warning and avoidance, adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, automatic high beam, road sign assist, and so on, will be available on the EV.
The compact EV is currently facing stiff competition in China and will most likely struggle to gain a significant market share among affordable EVs.
Rethinking EV Development
Toyota announced its electric vehicle (EV) adoption strategy last year. According to new reports, the company may be going back to the drawing board.
Toyota has formed an internal group to develop strategies for improving its current e-TNGA flexible EV platform or developing a new EV architecture, according to source. The e-TNGA platform is already in use in the bZ4X crossover SUV, and it will also serve as the foundation for the upcoming Lexus RZ 450e in 2023.
According to sources, Toyota’s EV development process is too slow and costly in comparison to other manufacturers. Toyota intends to rework its EV development strategy in order to address the issue.
To read our blog on “Toyota bZ3 will compete against Tesla Model 3 in Europe,” click here
