Most people agree the future of the automotive industry is electric vehicles. They are better for the environment due to needing to use less gas, and many states in America are implementing laws that automakers must be producing a certain percentage of electric vehicles by a certain date. The concept of electric cars is still relatively new when you look at the history of cars overall, going back more than a century.
But electric vehicles are growing in popularity and the traditional automakers are beginning to produce more of them as the years go on. Toyota
is launching a new sub-brand for its lineup of electric automobiles and has recently provided details about it. Because electric cars currently cost more than comparable gas-powered vehicles, car insurance rates are typically higher for them, but Jerry
can always help you keep your insurance costs low. Toyota unveils its bZ sub-brand for its electric lineup
Autotrader
reports on Toyota's new bZ sub-brand, which will be used for a significant portion of the Japanese automaker's future electric vehicles. The new bZ brand, which stands for Beyond Zero, is expected to account for roughly half of Toyota's electric cars. With 15 fully electric cars on Toyota's blueprint, seven are expected to fall under the bZ line. That is roughly one-tenth of the 70 electrified models Toyota plans to have in its global product portfolio by 2025.
The first model in the bZ lineup
The bZ4X electric SUV is expected to be the first model to fall under the bZ name. It resembles Toyota's popular RAV4, so even though its badge will be unfamiliar to buyers of Toyota vehicles, its look is very familiar.
In addition to being the first bZ-branded vehicle, the bZ4X is also expected to be Toyota's first mainstream model featuring input from Subaru, which is partially owned by Toyota.
Toyota is not giving out all the details about the bZ4X–its electric range and power are still unknown–but we do know some of what can be expected when the SUV launches.
It has a widescreen central display that pops up from the dashboard. If you like natural light while you're cruising, you'll be happy with the bZ4X's large panoramic sunroof.
Even though it's on a Toyota platform, the upcoming model will utilize Subaru's all-wheel drive technology. This marks the first collaboration between the popular manufacturers outside of a small rear-drive sports car that was never widely marketed.
Toyota's press release
tells us that the bZ4x will be produced in Japan and China, with worldwide sales projected to begin by the middle of 2022.Future plans for Toyota's electric lineup
Toyota plans to add electrification to its pickup trucks in the near future, which includes both hybrid and fully electric vehicles. In the long-term, the company hopes the expanded lineup of electrified vehicles will help it achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The vehicles that fall under the bZ umbrella are intended to be the centerpiece of Toyota's electric lineup.
Toyota looks to stay at the top of automotive rankings
Toyota is among the most popular automakers in the world, and the company intends to remain there as it transitions from a mostly gas-powered lineup and into a more diversified product lineup with more hybrid and electric vehicles in the future. Listening to customers' wants and needs as the electric vehicle market matures will help achieve that.