Toyota Launches $15,000 Electric SUV in China to Challenge Local EV Leaders

The bZ3X, Toyota’s most affordable EV, garners over 10,000 orders within an hour of its debut in the world’s largest EV market.

Toyota unveiled its bZ3X electric SUV in China, pricing the base model at just under 110,000 yuan ($15,170), making it the company's cheapest EV in the market.
The bZ3X uses cost-effective lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which reduce costs but trade off some range compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
The SUV is available in two versions, with the higher-end model featuring advanced driver assistance systems, including lane changing and merging capabilities, starting at 139,800 yuan ($19,279).
Toyota’s Chinese joint venture, GAC Toyota, reported more than 10,000 orders within an hour of the vehicle’s launch, causing its server to crash due to high demand.
The bZ3X is part of Toyota’s broader strategy to increase its presence in China, where domestic automakers like BYD dominate the competitive EV market with low-cost, feature-rich vehicles.