- Toyota has started selling an ultra-affordable compact electric SUV in China, called the bZ3X.
- The new EV is set to go head-to-head against EVs from local manufacturers such as BYD and Xpeng.
- Sold under GAC Toyota, the joint venture between the Japanese OEM and China’s GAC, over 10,000 consumer orders were received within an hour of the reveal, causing the order website’s server to crash – highlighting the potential popularity of this new EV.
Toyota reveals the ultra-affordable bZ3X in China
Prices for the bZ3X will start at RMB 109,800, equivalent to around $15,174. At the RMB 149,800 price point ($20,702), the EV can be specified with LIDAR technology – allowing for self-driving capabilities similar to Tesla’s Autopilot software. This also makes the bZ3X one of the most affordable cars with self-driving capability, available in China. The photos revealed certainly don’t hint at a $15,000 EV, with a premium looking exterior and interior, with a large Tesla Model Y-style touchscreen to boot.
Underneath, the bZ3X is heavily based on GAC’s existing budget electric car, the Aion V. This platform sharing has likely helped Toyota keep the price down on this new model. Furthering this low-cost goal, Toyota states that 65% of the bZ3X’s parts come from Chinese part suppliers. In top specification, the bZ3X will be capable of driving up to 379 miles between charges, courtesy of a 67.92kWh LFP battery pack.
With Toyota hoping to up its market share in China, sales figures of this model over the next few models will indicate whether this new EV can make a significant imapct.
The GAC Toyota bZ3X remains an exclusive within China for now, and it remains to be seen whether this EV will make its way to other territories such as Europe. There is a glimmer of hope however, considering that its close sibling, the GAC Aion V, is primed to arrive in the European market in the near future.
