Overview
- Toyota confirmed Thursday that it has postponed the start of production for the 2027 Highlander EV while it completes final vehicle adjustments before launch.
- The automaker said it will continue building the gas and hybrid Highlander through December 2026 and has not provided a revised production or on‑sale date for the EV.
- Toyota had planned to assemble the Highlander EV in Kentucky using batteries put together in North Carolina, and the pause leaves the timing of that first U.S. EV production uncertain.
- The Highlander EV shares a modified TNGA‑K electric platform with Subaru’s Getaway and Lexus’s TZ, so analysts say the delay could affect the launch schedules of those sibling models.
- The move comes as U.S. policy changes and shifting buyer demand have eased regulatory pressure on automakers and boosted hybrid sales, which some outlets note may reduce urgency to rush an EV launch.