Toyota electric car boom looms: Sales juggernaut expects huge leap in BZ4X sales to challenge Zeekr 7X, Kia EV5

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Toyota is expecting an electric car boom in 2026. 

Often criticised for its slow EVs roll-out, but equally one of the best-placed when global EV demand waned, Toyota is readying its dealers to not just sell more hybrids in 2026, but for the BZ4X medium SUV to see a huge 500 percent increase in sales.

After recording just 1041 deliveries in 2025 (an incremental gain over 977 in 2024), Toyota says it’s expecting 5000 sales in 2026, with the vehicle now exiting the ‘early adopter’ phase and entering the mainstream market.

The facelifted BZ4X has seen its driving range boosted and entry pricing slashed by around $10,000 from MY25 to $55,990 before on-roads. This is sure to help its standing.

While pricing sits below the $58,900 Tesla Model Y RWD, there’s daylight between BZ4X and Australia’s cheapest electric medium SUVs such as the BYD Atto 3 Essential ($39,990), Geely EX5 Complete ($41,990) and Leapmotor C10 Style ($45,888, all before on-road costs). 

Price point isn’t everything, as the Tesla Model Y has shown. It was the most popular electric car last month and third best-selling vehicle overall, behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux and actually ahead of Toyota’s RAV4 juggernaut as that SUV entered run-out. 

If Toyota manages to build on February’s BZ4X sales figures (211), it will be able to push to that 5000 sale target, getting in close proximity to the China-sourced Kia EV5 (4787 sales in the whole of 2025) along with the popular Zeekr 7X (296 sales in February). 

With fuel prices soaring and oil supply in question, it is unlikely electric car demand will fall in the coming months, so expect all electric cars to jump in popularity. 

Toyota’s next electric steps include the BZ4X touring, a larger station-wagon version of the current model, with the European-sourced fully electric C-HR due to arrive in 2027.

Neither new model is likely to dip into ‘bargain’ pricing territory, with the Touring expected to sit above the BZ4X and the cheapest C-HR hybrid variant currently $46,940, before on-road costs.

Toyota is mulling importing more affordable China-sourced EVs in the future, however, which may boost its price competitiveness.

With additional reporting by John Law.