TOYOTA is about to construct a competitor to the Kia EV9 with the announcement this week that it has invested $US1.3 billion ($A1.54b) at its flagship Kentucky plant to supply a future three-row, battery electrical SUV.
Aimed squarely on the US market, the venture is alleged to strengthen the model’s dedication to high-quality automobiles and long-term job stability on the plant, the funding supporting beforehand introduced battery electrical automobile tasks in Kentucky, which can even obtain a brand new battery pack manufacturing line to assemble packs made in North Carolina.
Particulars of the brand new mannequin are scarce, although it’s possible comparable in measurement to the Toyota Highlander (Kluger) and rival the likes of Kia’s three-row EV9.
Earlier stories counsel the brand new Toyota mannequin will probably be dubbed the bZ5X – the mannequin initially previewed because the bZ Massive SUV idea again in 2021.
The manufacturing mannequin is predicted to characteristic the identical Hammerhead Shark frontal styling seen in different Toyota BEV fashions, in addition to large-diameter alloy wheels and wraparound DLO.
It’s anticipated the mannequin will measure near 5000mm in size providing comparable passenger and cargo house to the present Toyota Highlander (Kluger). Additionally it is anticipated that a lot of the inside design and expertise interaction will resemble that of the bZ4X and embrace comparable ranges of security and self-driving expertise.
It’s not but clear what powertrain will characteristic sooner or later mannequin, although some stories counsel it might mirror the providing discovered within the Lexus RZ450e, which shares the identical e-TNGA platform because the proposed Toyota mannequin.
If that’s the case, the Toyota bZ5X will supply the same 230kW of system energy, twin electrical motors and a compact 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Driving vary can be near that of the mannequin’s Lexus sibling at 470km with a DC fast-charging time of round half-hour.
By means of comparability, the Kia EV9 provides a selection of 160kW or 282kW single- and dual-motor options, a 76.1kWh or 99.8kWh battery pack, and a driving vary of as much as 512km.
Kentucky has been a hub for Toyota’s North American operations since 1986. The power boasts nearly 10,000 workers and continues to assemble strong-selling fashions, together with the Toyota Camry.
“As we speak’s announcement displays our dedication to automobile electrification and additional reinvesting in our US operations,” mentioned Toyota Kentucky president Kerry Creech.
“Generations of our staff members helped put together for this chance, and we’ll proceed main the cost into the longer term by remaining true to who we’re as firm and placing our folks first for generations to return.”
Since 2023, Toyota has introduced new investments totalling $US17 billion ($A25.7b) into its US manufacturing operations to help electrification efforts.
It says that rising battery electrical automobile meeting in North America helps advance its portfolio-wide strategy to electrification and its dedication to constructing the place it sells.
