Toyota is gearing up to introduce not one but two electric SUVs equipped with three rows of seating, both slated for production in the United States. Toyota had previously announced plans to manufacture a new, three-row electric SUV in the US, confirming its commitment to electric mobility.
Now, it has revealed an additional investment of US$1.4 billion (A$2.16bn) in its Princeton, Indiana plant, earmarked for constructing another three-row electric SUV, distinct from the earlier announcement.
This expansion project includes establishing a battery pack assembly line at the Indiana plant, which will utilize lithium-ion batteries sourced from the US$13.9 billion (A$21.48bn) Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina facility set to commence operations in 2025. Currently, the Indiana plant is responsible for producing the Highlander (known as the Kluger), alongside the related Toyota Grand Highlander, Lexus TX crossovers, and the Toyota Sienna people mover.
Earlier in February, Toyota had disclosed a US$1.3 billion (A$2bn) investment in its Georgetown, Kentucky plant, primarily to facilitate the production of a new three-row electric SUV. Like the Indiana facility, this plant will also integrate batteries from the North Carolina plant. Toyota’s investments in electrification efforts across its US manufacturing operations have reached a staggering US$18.6 billion (A$28.75bn) since 2021.
However, the company has not provided specific details regarding the introduction timelines or names for these two distinct three-row SUV models. According to Automotive News, production of the SUV built in Kentucky is scheduled to commence in 2026, and it might be designated as the bZ5X.
Tim Hollander, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, hinted that this SUV would not adopt the skateboard-style construction typical of many EVs, suggesting it could be an electric adaptation of an existing combustion-powered vehicle.
Given the recent launch of the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX in 2023, these models seem the likeliest candidates for electrification. A recent report from CarBuzz speculated that one of the upcoming electric SUVs might replace the current Kluger/Highlander, a strong seller for Toyota. In the US, it ranked as the seventh best-selling vehicle in its segment last year, while in other markets like Australia, it claimed the fifth spot in the large SUV segment.
Last year, Toyota revealed the LandCruiser Se concept, showcasing a three-row electric SUV measuring 5150mm long, 1990mm wide, and 1705mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3050mm. Unlike traditional LandCruiser models, this concept features a unibody architecture, indicating a shift towards a more road-oriented focus compared to rugged off-road variants like the Prado.
In 2021, Toyota previewed a separate large electric SUV concept, alongside a closely related Lexus version, as part of its electric vehicle lineup expansion. While Toyota continues to expand its bZ line of electric vehicles, only the bZ4X is designated as a global model, while variants like the bZ3 sedan, bZ3X, and bZ3C crossovers revealed at the Beijing motor show are expected to remain exclusive to the Chinese market.
