Toyota Kluger EV? US-built electric three-row SUV confirmed from 2025

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Toyota has announced it will invest more money into US production of electric vehicles from 2025. 

Furthermore, the Japanese automaker has announced it will build an all-new, three-row battery electric SUV – that could serve as an electrified version of the Kluger – at its Kentucky manufacturing facility in 2025. 

This SUV, which is yet to be named, will use batteries that will also be built in North Carolina, USA. The North Carolina battery plant is set to receive a huge boost, with $2.1 billion invested into the project. 

All up, Toyota will invest nearly $6 billion (AUD$9 billion) into North Carolina.

While American factories typically cater to left-hand drive American markets, some vehicles such as the three-row Kluger, and other iconic names like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette are built and shipped to Australia in right-hand-drive form.

What will this new Toyota SUV BEV be?

While Toyota has most recently applied unique electric names for its EVs – BZ4X midsize SUV and BZ3 sedan to name a few – the new three-row SUV built in the USA could use a more familiar name, such as the Toyota Highlander (also known as the Kluger in markets such as Australia) or the Toyota RAV4. 

Toyota is also rumoured to potentially use the BZ5X name, as it was originally applied to the concept that appeared in 2021. 

With the Highlander/Kluger already built in Princeton, Indiana, Toyota could shuffle production from the Indiana plant to Kentucky as the brand transitions toward full electrification. 

The brand will likely re-purpose the Princeton factory that currently manufactures the Sienna and Highlander models. 

The plant previously manufactured the Toyota Tundra full-size ute between 1999 and 2008, and the Toyota Sequoia large SUV from 2000 to 2021. Both models have since moved to Toyota Texas. 

Toyota previously announced it would aim to offer 30 electric models by 2030, but as reported, this plan is likely to change under new leadership by President Koji Sato.