Toyota Motor revealed last week it is delaying plans to launch production of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the US until sometime in 2026, following earlier plans to begin the roll-out in late 2025, in response to weak global demand.
The Japanese automaker currently sells two BEV models in the US, the Toyota bZ4X two-row SUV and the Lexus RZ 450e SUV, both of which imported from Japan.
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Toyota Motor North America spokesperson Scott Vazin confirmed the delay, but pointed out that the automaker still intends to push aggressively into this segment – with plans to launch up to seven all-electric models in the US by 2028.
Toyota had originally planned to begin production of a yet-unnamed three-row battery-powered SUV at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, in the US in late 2025. Production will now be delayed by at least several months until well into 2026. The automaker also plans to launch production of another “unspecified” battery-powered SUV at its factory in Princeton, Indiana, in late 2026.
Earlier this year Toyota said it planned to invest US$1.3bn to retool its Kentucky factory for BEV production, with a further US$1.4bn earmarked for its Indiana plant. The company is also building a lithium-ion battery plant in North Carolina, with completion now scheduled for later 2025.
The US BEV roll-out is part of Toyota’s plans to sell 1.5 million BEVs globally by 2026.
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