The company has reportedly scrapped its plans to manufacture electric Lexus SUVs in North America by 2030.
Plans for Toyota’s EV production in North America have reportedly been delayed, with the automaker now targeting mid-2026 instead of 2025. This shift is attributed to a slowdown in EV sales growth across the region, leading the Japanese manufacturer to adopt a more cautious approach. Initially, the company aimed to launch a three-row electric SUV from its Kentucky plant, but the timeline has been pushed back by several months.
Toyota has already invested $1.3 billion in the Kentucky facility for EV production. Additionally, it appears that the automaker has abandoned plans to manufacture electric Lexus SUVs in North America by 2030, with these models likely to be imported from Japan instead.
Nikkei Asia reports that Toyota recently informed its suppliers about the delay, citing the need for design adjustments to the three-row SUV as one of the reasons for the postponement. A new firm date has not yet been confirmed. Additionally, suppliers were told that Toyota now anticipates producing around 1 million EVs globally in 2026, down from the previously projected 1.5 million units.
The three-row electric SUV is tentatively named the bZ5x and will draw design inspiration from the bZ Large SUV concept introduced in December 2021. This new model, which will compete with the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, is expected to be built on an extended version of the current e-TNGA architecture. It should feature a larger battery pack than the 71.4 kWh unit found in the smaller bZ4x and may come equipped with two electric motors and all-wheel drive as standard.
Interestingly, the new model is anticipated to also give rise to a Subaru-branded version, which will reportedly be produced at the same Kentucky plant.
The substantial investments Toyota is making in Kentucky will not only support the assembly of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) at the site but will also fund a new battery pack assembly line. This facility will utilize batteries supplied by Toyota Battery Manufacturing in North Carolina. Current models produced in Kentucky include the Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, and Lexus ES, along with several four- and six-cylinder engines.