TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Toyota bZ3X a no-show

Despite downplaying the importance of EVs in Australia, Toyota’s electric vehicle push continued in earnest at this week’s Japan Mobility Show, where the world’s biggest car-maker revealed concepts for a battery-powered dual-cab ute (called the EPU) and large SUV (LandCruiser Se), as well as a smaller electric SUV (FT-3e) and an electric sports car (FT-Se).

Production versions of all those EVs are on the cards for Australia, where Toyota has promised to release at least three electric models by 2026, starting with the 2024 Toyota bZ4X mid-size electric SUV next February.

But a notable absence at Tokyo’s first motor show since 2019 was the Toyota bZ3X – a small electric SUV that’s expected to be Toyota’s second global EV, followed by the bZ5X large electric SUV.

Neither of these model names have yet been confirmed by Toyota, but the Japanese brand has committed to launching seven bZ (‘beyond Zero’) electric models globally by 2025, on its way to releasing 30 Toyota and Lexus EVs by 2030, by which time Toyota plans to sell 3.5 million EVs annually.

As details of Toyota’s long-awaited EV rollout become clearer, the inaugural bZ4X is a logical place to start given mid-size SUVs are Australia’s most popular new vehicle type. The segment is currently led by the Tesla Model Y, which to September this year is even outselling the Toyota RAV4.

Excluding utes, small SUVs form the next biggest segment, in which the bZ3X would compete with the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and upcoming Kia EV4, followed by large SUVs including the new seven-seat Kia EV9, which the bZ5X will presumably target.

The bZ3X was officially teased last month after being previewed almost a year ago in Los Angeles by the Toyota bZ compact SUV concept.

That makes next month’s 2023 LA show the most likely and logical venue for the bZ3X’s world debut, although its chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama – who also replaced Daisuke Ido as the bZ4X’s chief engineer in January this year – would not confirm that, saying only that Toyota is “still studying” a sub-bZ4X model.

Also asked if the bZ3X will be one of the three EVs to arrive in Australia by 2026, making it the second Toyota EV to be released Down Under after the bZ4X, Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations chief Sean Hanley told carsales “it could be one of them”.

So far little is known about the mechanical make-up of the bZ3X, which should be priced from under $50,000, but unlike the larger bZ4X it may only be available only with a single-motor (front-drive) electric powertrain and a smaller battery offering a shorter range.

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