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Toyota and BYD built a 268-hp electric sedan with 391 miles of range for under $18,000, and the reason it’ll never touch American soil goes deeper than just tariffs.
The U.S. version of Toyota’s bZ lineup costs more than double the price while delivering 77 fewer miles of range and less standard tech, which should make every American EV shopper uncomfortable.
With Ford publicly calling for closer ties to Chinese automakers and trade policy shifting by the week, this China-only Toyota reveals just how much the EV price war overseas is reshaping what Americans are allowed to buy — and how much more they’re paying for less.
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Toyota and BYD are producing an EV with 268 horsepower and up to 391 miles of range for less than $18,000. The problem is, it’s not for sale in the United States.
The cut-price Toyota bZ5 was built for the Chinese market. It’s built on the e-TNGA platform, a joint venture between Toyota and fellow Japanese manufacturer Subaru. Which means you may see shades of it in the upcoming electric Highlander and the Subaru Getaway.
BYD is supplying the battery, which may be a contributing factor when it comes to the competitive range and low cost. That battery will allegedly charge from 30% to 80% in under half an hour.
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Despite the low price, the vehicle comes with a good amount of tech. Apparently Toyota’s Pilot L2+ semi-autonomous driving is included, along with a LiDAR sensor. Which not every manufacturer installs on their semi-autonomous vehicles. Infotainment centers around a 15.6 inch touchscreen.
Of course, the US has its own version of the bZ, though it looks like a rougher deal. The American version of the BV does have more horsepower, with up to 315 on the top trim, though the base model only has 168. It lacks in range compared to its Chinese counterpart, with a full charge getting you 314 miles at best. It also starts at $36,350, around double the price of the Chinese version. But is there a chance that the US could get the half-price, stripped-down, Chinese model?
Will we ever see a cheap Toyota bZ5 in the US?
We live in strange times, with government policy seemingly changing on a whim and Ford of all companies calling for closer ties with the Chinese automotive industry. However, despite all of this, it’s unlikely we’ll see the cheaper Toyota bZ5 on US shores
In addition to the current crippling tariffs in place, lawmakers are still pushing hard against the importation of Chinese-built vehicles. Especially those associated with major Chinese OEMs like BYD.
Beyond that, Toyota and BYD designed the new bZ5 for the Chinese market. What works in China doesn’t necessarily work in the United States or Europe. So while the price and specs look good on paper, there may be a number of factors that mean Toyota would never bring the bZ5 stateside. Even if importing it or simply building it in its Kentucky-based plant was an option.
One of those factors is the EV price war currently happening on Chinese soil. That’s part of the reason the cheaper bZ exists, and also why it’s not even being sent to Europe. The EU is a trading bloc with lower, less volatile tariffs than the US and has seen a multitude of cheaper Chinese vehicles hit the market in recent years. But even it’s getting the more expensive bZ4X instead.
Of course, if you’re strangely infatuated with the bZ5, there is always the option of importing one in 25 years’ time. But a second-hand EV is already something many people don’t want to take a gamble on. Never mind a very cheap, quarter-century-old EV that comes with a bunch of red tape and import fees.
