- Toyota will construct two new electrical crossovers in the US.
- Each may have three rows of seats and shall be assembled in Kentucky.
- In keeping with an unnamed supply, the 2 EVs shall be primarily based on the RAV4 and the Land Cruiser.
Toyota’s first American-made battery electrical automobiles shall be in-built Kentucky, the Japanese automaker advised Reuters. Each shall be three-row SUVs–one primarily based on the Land Cruiser and one other primarily based on the RAV4, based on an individual aware of the matter who spoke with Reuters.
That’s thrilling information for Toyota followers, but it surely’s value noting that whereas the report claims the 2 new EVs shall be primarily based on a few of the most recognizable nameplates within the auto trade, they may doubtless be underpinned by the automaker’s EV-specific e-TNGA platform, and never a gas-powered structure.
Manufacturing of the 2 EVs is anticipated to start subsequent yr on the similar Kentucky plant the place the present technology Lexus ES sedan is being constructed. Nonetheless, American manufacturing of the combustion-powered Lexus will finish quickly, with meeting of the subsequent technology being moved to Japan.
This fashion, Toyota makes room for the 2 upcoming three-row SUVs that had been teased earlier this yr. The Land cruiser see idea was revealed in 2023, and regardless of it sporting a reputation that’s related to overlanding and off-roading, the present automobile could be very a lot an asphalt-oriented machine, with a dimension that’s almost equivalent to the Toyota Grand Highlander.
Toyota Land Cruiser Se idea
Photograph by: Toyota
That’s to not say it doesn’t look good. It’s fairly smooth and boxy–simply don’t anticipate to discover Moab with it.
As for the RAV4 EV, we do not actually know something about it but. That mentioned, it’s anticipated to be related in dimension to the upcoming hybrid-only RAV4, so a notch beneath the battery-powered Land Cruiser.
Toyota has been sluggish to ramp up its EV recreation, but it surely’s lastly catching up with the competitors. The automaker has been described as a laggard within the EV adoption race, with only a single Toyota-branded EV on sale now in the US, the bZ4X. That can change quickly, because the up to date 2026 bZ shall be joined by the smaller C-HR and bigger bZ Woodland by the tip of the yr. Then, the 2 new three-row crossovers will comply with.
The carmaker has lengthy argued {that a} diversified powertrain portfoliowhich incorporates hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric fashions, is a greater solution to cut back emissions than to dive straight into an all-EV lineup.
