Overview
- Toyota reported 10,029 U.S. bZ sales in the first quarter, up about 79% year over year and ahead of Chevrolet’s Equinox EV at 9,589 and Toyota’s Prius at 9,737.
- The bZ’s turnaround follows a full update that raised maximum range to about 314 miles, added a built‑in Tesla NACS charging port, cut 10%–80% DC fast‑charge times to roughly 30 minutes, and refreshed the cabin and tech.
- Cox Automotive data shows Toyota leaned on deals to build share, with February incentives on the bZ averaging about 30% of the transaction price, and dealers advertised up to $7,000 off with 0% APR on new stock.
- The broader market cooled in Q1 as new EV sales fell an estimated 28% according to Cox, with Ford’s EV tally dropping to 6,860 and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 reaching 9,790, underscoring how the bZ gained ground as rivals stumbled.
- Toyota says it will expand to seven battery‑electric models in the U.S. by 2027, including a U.S.‑built Highlander EV and another Kentucky‑made SUV with batteries sourced from North Carolina, while Lexus RZ sales rose 206% in Q1.