Toyota may be one of the top-selling brands in the U.S. but the original bZ4X, its first serious foray into the battery-electric vehicle market, didn’t do much to charge up U.S. EV buyers. The good news is that Toyota appears to have learned from its mistakes. A mid-cycle update addresses the most notable buyer concerns, adding more range, better performance – and a shorter name. Headlight.News had an opportunity to test drive the new 2026 Toyota bZ and here’s what we learned.
This is going to be a big year for Toyota and its sibling Lexus brand. Look for two dozen new and refreshed models to reach showrooms in the coming months. As has become the norm for the two marques, the emphasis will be on “electrified” drivetrains, including at least five EVs. But there’ll also be something to satisfy classic gearheads, as well. More from Headlight.News.
Toyota may be one of the top-selling brands in the U.S. but its first serious foray into the battery-electric vehicle market hasn’t done much to charge up U.S. EV buyers. The automaker is hoping more of them will plug in with the launch of a mid-cycle update, the 2026 Toyota bZ4X getting a boost to both range and performance while cutting charging times. Here’s a first look.
Already not in any hurry to begin producing electric vehicles in big numbers like many of its competitors, Toyota officials revealed the company’s adjusted its manufacturing timeline in North America from late 2025 to sometime in 2026. Find out more at Headlight.News.
Though it’s long emphasized hybrids, Toyota has plenty of battery-electric vehicles coming before the end of the decade and one of the most significant moves will see the automaker’s popular Highlander model go all-electric when the next-generation SUV comes out around 2027, Headlight.News reports.
He’s warned that the switch to battery-electric vehicles could seriously harm the auto industry. And even though his successor as Toyota CEO has committed more resources to EVs, Akio Toyoda continues to see a future in which hybrids and other alternatives dominate the global market. More from Headlight.News.
When it comes to EVs, Toyota and Nissan have been slow to join the party. But the two manufacturers plan to rapidly expand their offerings over the next several years. Between them, they’ve announced a combined nine new all-electric models due to reach showrooms in the next few years. Unfortunately for American motorists, most or all of those new EVs won’t be coming to the States. Headlight.News has more on the new Toyota and Nissan EVs.
Slow to enter the EV market, Toyota is making up for lost time. And it’s signaling its shift in direction at this week’s Japan Mobility Show where it will unveil two all-electric concept vehicles, including one that could become a battery-powered successor to the Toyota Supra.