Toyota Launches $15,000 bZ3X, Its Most Affordable EV in China

• Toyota’s bZ3X SUV starts at RMB 109,800 ($15,150 USD), making it the brand’s cheapest electric vehicle in China.

• The model received over 10,000 orders in its first hour, causing GAC Toyota’s website to crash.

• Offered in seven variants, the bZ3X includes LiDAR-equipped options with Momenta’s autonomous driving technology.

Toyota has introduced its most affordable electric vehicle in China, the bZ3X SUV, with a starting price of RMB 109,800 ($15,150). The model, launched under Toyota’s joint venture with GAC Group, will be the brand’s first all-electric SUV in the RMB 100,000 category.

The bZ3X saw strong initial demand, securing over 10,000 orders within its first hour of availability. GAC Toyota reported that its website crashed shortly after the launch due to high traffic.

The model is offered in seven variants, with five versions lacking LiDAR and two equipped with the technology. Standard variants start at RMB 109,800, with the highest-priced model reaching RMB 159,800. Temporary incentives reduce the entry price to RMB 104,800 ($14,450).

The bZ3X features a 14.6-inch center touchscreen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, which is widely used in China’s electric vehicle market. The LiDAR-equipped versions incorporate Momenta’s 5.0 smart driving system, which features Nvidia Orin X chips and full-scenario NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) without requiring high-definition maps.

Toyota offers the bZ3X with a single electric motor producing either 150 kW or 165 kW (201 or 221 hp), with driving ranges of 430 km, 520 km, and 610 km under China’s CLTC cycle (302 to 428 km EPA)

The bZ3X joins Toyota’s bZ lineup, which includes the bZ4X SUV and the bZ3 sedan. Japanese automakers, including Toyota, have historically struggled to compete in China’s rapidly growing EV sector. The bZ3X will undoubtedly help. A certainty: It will not be offered for sale in North America, much like the Volkswagen ID. Every1.

Source: electrive