Chinese-built, joint-venture electric vehicles could be the key for Toyota Australia in the tailpipe emissions-free sales race.
Electric Cars
Toyota Australia could turn to China to expand its burgeoning electric car line-up, opening the doors to a Tesla Model 3 rival like the bZ3 and more.
Speaking to Drive, Toyota Australia Sales and Marketing boss Sean Hanley said the brand has been keeping an eye on the products being produced under joint ventures in China.
“We have good relationships in manufacturing in China, we have some great product over there,” Hanley told Drive.
“They may very well be suitable for the Australian market going forward, there’s no anti-Chinese sentiment here.
“If we’ve got a Toyota joint venture in China where the car they’re making under the Toyota brand, under the Toyota quality control works for here, of course we’d consider it,” Hanley said.
At present, Toyota only offers one electric vehicle (EV) globally, the bZ4X family SUV, which is due to be updated before year’s end.
Next year will see the introduction of the bZ4X Touring, essentially the same vehicle with a taller room and larger boot.
In China however, the bZ (Beyond Zero) series models also encompass the bZ3 mid-size sedan and bZ5 SUV coupe, built in conjunction with FAW, and the Camry-sized bZ7 and bZ3X family SUV, born through Toyota’s partnership with GAC.
However, Hanley shut down the idea of bringing any of the already-revealed Chinese-built electric models to Australia.
“We’ve looked at it, but not seriously,” Hanley said.
“But I think it’s fair to say in the future you’d be silly not to look at it seriously.”
In Australia, Toyota’s EV uptake remains small with only 596 bZ4X models sold so far this year, well down on the market-leading and segment-sharing Tesla Model Y that has found 13,310 new homes in the same time period.
Electric Cars Guide
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
