Toyota bZ4X electric vehicle to make ASEAN debut

Toyota’s first-ever battery electric vehicle (BEV), the bZ4X, is headed for mass production in Japan. This early, the model has been confirmed for launch in the ASEAN region by the latter half of 2022. Its first expected stop is Thailand, where it will be imported as a completely built up (CBU) model. 

The Toyota bZ4X electric crossover will come to Thailand within the year

According to Toyota Motor Thailand president Noriaki Yamashita, the bZ4X follows the Lexus UX 300e BEV and the Lexus NX450h+ PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) which were introduced in 2021. “For the Toyota brand, the bZ4X, which is the first model in the bZ Series, will be introduced this year,” he said. 

A second ASEAN destination will be Malaysia, where the bZ4X is expected to debut in 2023. The Lexus UX 300e is scheduled to arrive first in that market by the latter part of 2022. While Yamashita did not discuss plans on having the bZ4X assembled in Thailand, he did commit to further localizing operations, turning the country into a key production hub for the company’s electric vehicles.   

It shares a platform and much of its design with the Subaru Solterra 

Introduced in October 2021, the bZ4X heralds the coming of Toyota’s ‘beyond Zero’ line of emissions-free vehicles. As the first model to use Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, it is one of 15 battery-powered cars that the automaker plans to release by 2025. Both Toyota and Subaru developed the bZ4X, which will also be marketed as the Subaru Solterra.            

The electric crossover seats five occupants and runs on a 71.4-kilowatt hour battery, which supports both AC and DC charging. Using a front-wheel drivetrain, the single onboard electric motor delivers 201 horsepower and 254 Nm of torque, good for accelerating from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.4 seconds.  

The bZ4X's e-TNGA platform supports both front-wheel and all-wheel drivetrains

Meanwhile, the all-wheel drive version packs two motors rated at 107 horsepower each, with a combined output of 215 horsepower and 336 Nm of torque. Achieving 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill requires only 7.7 seconds. If Toyota’s maiden EV offering has already won you over, you might want to convince Toyota Philippines to bring it here.     

Find more electrifying model releases at Philkotse.com.