Chinese rush on Toyota’s €14,000 bZ3X electric SUV

The world’s number one automaker, Japanese Toyota, is aiming its arrows on the world’s biggest auto market with the bZ3X electric SUV, introduced in China at 109,800 yuan or some 14,000 euros. The Chinese elbowed each other out of the way, crashing the server with more than 10,000 orders in an hour.

It’s Toyota’s cheapest EV to date in the joint venture with Chinese GAC. On the Chinese market, it is offered in seven variants, two of which feature LiDAR, a first for the joint venture. The top model costing 159,800 yuan (€20,375) features a 67.92 kWh LFP battery promising a 610 km (CLTC) range, hence the name ‘610 Max’.

Compact crossover

Toyota has unveiled the bZ3X at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. It’s a battery-electric compact crossover developed in collaboration with GAC Group and is part of Toyota’s “Beyond Zero” (bZ) series, which is currently represented by the bZ4X in Europe.

The two models with LiDAR use the 5.0 intelligent driving system from Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta and a Nvidia Orin X chip with 254 TOPS of computing power.

It comes with various ADAS systems, such as parallel and remote-controlled parking, high-speed autonomous pilot, light traffic assist, and NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) functionality without relying on HD maps. The center screen is a 14.6″ infotainment screen with voice recognition and an 8.8″ driver display behind the wheel.

The base version is called ‘430 Air ‘and offers a range of up to 430 km with a 50.03 kWh LFP battery pack. In between sits a version with 520 km range (CLTC). Power comes from a single electric motor with a maximum power of 150 kW or 165 kW.

Prioritize passenger comfort

Measuring 4,600 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,645 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,765 mm, the bZ3X offers for its money a spacious interior designed to prioritize passenger comfort. But it is just slightly more compact than the bZ4X with its 4,690 mm length.

Toyota claims it provides the largest rear space in its class – a quintessential trait for Chinese customers – featuring a panoramic glass roof to enhance the cabin’s airy feel. Toyota points at the ability to fold down front and rear seats to provide nearly three meters of space, ‘a mobile space that is comfortable as home.’

While currently exclusive to the Chinese market, Toyota is considering introducing the bZ3X to European markets. It prepares a major announcement of several new EVs for March 12. However, its commitment to expanding its global electric vehicle offerings is under continuous evaluation, and the geopolitical tension over trade tariffs might soften the international ambitions of its latest BEV.