Toyota and Lexus Are Prepared to Introduce a Wave of New EVs in America | Carscoops

      If there is an excess in production, the company believes that exports might provide a viable solution.

      15 hours ago

      by Thanos Pappas

      Toyota and Lexus are planning to broaden their electric vehicle (EV) offerings in North America over the next two years.

      The automaker intends to release seven new EVs in the US, which will include two models manufactured locally.

      Any surplus EVs produced in American factories will be sent to expanding international markets.

      While Toyota is performing well with its hybrid-focused lineup and aims for 20% of US sales to come from plug-in hybrids by 2030, the company is not stopping there. It has significant plans to enhance its electric vehicle range in the US. By the middle of 2027, Toyota and Lexus will launch at least seven new EVs across North America, featuring a variety of models that could give them a competitive advantage.

      Moreover, Toyota is adding more electric alternatives to its current lineup. Anticipate the updated bZ4X crossover (now referred to as the bZ), the bZ Woodland, the C-HR, and a soon-to-arrive three-row SUV. On the Lexus front, the RZ crossover will be complemented by an electric variant of the new-generation ES sedan introduced last month, alongside a larger SUV.

      US-Made Electric SUVs Are On the Way

      Although many of these models will be brought in from elsewhere, the major announcement is that the upcoming three-row SUVs, one from Toyota and one from Lexus, will be produced domestically in the United States. After a short delay, manufacturing will commence in 2026 at two locations in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Princeton, Indiana. These new electric SUVs will compete against models like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, which are also aimed at the increasing demand for larger electric vehicles.

      Toyota is not entering the EV sector without a strategy. According to Bloomberg, the company usually adds a new model to a factory only when it is confident it can sell 100,000-150,000 units annually. While the growth in US EV adoption is predicted to be slower than expected, Toyota has a plan to maintain production. Any additional EV output from its US facilities will be exported to international markets where demand is growing more rapidly.

      Cooper Ericksen, Senior Vice President of Product, BEV and Mobility Planning and Strategy at Toyota Motor North America, noted: “We’ll sell a little more each year and grow with the market. But we need to consider what Canada will consume, what the US will consume, and then we can export to other global markets.” The company is hopeful that its export strategies will not be impacted by a potential escalation in the tariff conflict.

      A Long-Term Commitment

      Currently, electric vehicles make up only 8% of automotive sales in the US, but Toyota anticipates that figure will double by 2030. Ericksen stated, “BEVs are not providing incremental volume for us at the moment; they are cannibalizing our existing volume. However, we believe it will become a crucial segment that we do not want to concede to competitors.”

      In terms of production, Toyota is establishing a lithium-ion battery factory in North Carolina to support its US-made EVs and hybrids. Upon reaching full capacity, the facility will have an output exceeding 30 gigawatt hours, sufficient to power 800,000 hybrids, 150,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and 300,000 battery electric vehicles annually.

      Toyota has committed to providing an electrified option across all its models this year. Presently, around 80% of Toyota and Lexus models in the US are offered with hybrid or EV alternatives. With these initiatives, Toyota aims to solidify its position in the expanding EV market, even if the path to widespread acceptance is gradual.