Toyota BZ3 electrical sedan faucets BYD battery tech—just for China

Toyota has launched a second electrical automobile, however it’s not coming to the US.

The Toyota BZ3 sedan was developed for the Chinese language market beneath a three way partnership between Toyota and Chinese language automaker BYD, and will likely be produced and offered by Toyota’s older three way partnership with Chinese language agency FAW.

The BZ3 relies on the identical e-TNGA platform utilized by the Toyota BZ4X crossover lately launched within the U.S. That platform was co-developed with Subaru, and in addition underpins that automaker’s Solterra electrical crossover.

Borrowing some styling components from the BZ4X, the BZ3 is 1.4 inches longer than the crossover at 186.0 inches, with a 1.1-inch wheelbase stretch to 113.3 inches. At 72.2 inches, the BZ3 is 1.0 inch narrower than the BZ4X, and its 58.0-inch top is a whopping 11.0 inches decrease than the crossover.

Toyota additionally claims a formidable 0.21 coefficient of drag, which places the BZ3 close to the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan, and Tesla Mannequin S, all at 0.20 to 0.21.

Whereas it is primarily based on the e-TNGA platform, the BZ3 makes use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells from BYD. Toyota did not record the pack measurement, however quoted a 372-mile vary estimate, primarily based on China’s CLTC testing cycle.

BYD has lengthy specialised in LFP chemistry, boasting of elevated security with its newest Blade battery. The corporate would not promote passenger automobiles within the U.S., however has marketed buses right here, and is presently coming into the European market—with Tesla utilizing BYD cells in some automobiles from its new German manufacturing facility.

Toyota’s three way partnership with FAW dates again to 2000, and was shaped at a time when the Chinese language authorities required overseas automakers to companion with native corporations to promote automobiles within the nation. FAW was additionally an investor in EV startup Byton.

The BZ3 will seemingly stay a China-only mannequin, and whereas Toyota is anticipated to launch different EVs within the U.S., the cadence of these launches is doubtful. In line with a latest report, Toyota is reportedly pausing some future EVs because it reevaluates some engineering decisions—doubtlessly together with the e-TNGA platform.