Toyota electric cars: 11 new models due by 2030

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has revealed 11 electric concept cars in a wide-ranging presentation – previewing the Japanese company’s EV strategy and showcasing its future plans to the public for the first time.

Speaking to his online audience, Toyoda said: “Today, I would like to talk about Toyota's strategy for achieving carbon neutrality – particularly our strategy for battery electric vehicles, which represent one of the most promising options.”

The first of the new electric vehicles will be the bZ4X, which has already been unveiled and will go on sale in the UK in 2022. However, Toyoda confirmed four further bZ (beyond Zero) models, which will eventually form a family of small EVs designed to offer mass-market appeal at an affordable price.

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These will include a more rakish, coupe-style version of the bZ4X (above), similar in style to the current Toyota C-HR hybrid. However, as with all of the cars revealed by Toyota’s CEO, the crossover will be purely electric.

While many manufacturers are turning their backs on small city cars due to high production costs, Toyota continues to show its commitment in this segment, revealing an even smaller bZ variant (below).

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Toyoda said: “this is the most compact SUV in the series – a small battery EV with a comfortable interior designed with Europe and Japan in mind.”

Given a new petrol-engined Aygo X city car has only just been revealed, it’s likely the entry-level bZ will sit alongside that for some time – offering buyers a choice of petrol or electric power. Toyoda said the brand’s smallest electric car would target strong efficiency of up to five miles per kilowatt-hour.

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Two further bZ models were revealed in the presentation: a saloon (above) and a large, seven-seat SUV – cars that'll eventually see Toyota launch five distinct bZ-branded models globally by 2030.

With reference to its bZ series of cars, Toyoda said: “We hope to deliver to customers around the world the unique and beautiful styling as well as fun-to-drive aspects of battery EVs, and the experience of a life with battery EVs.”

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In addition to these more affordable models, Toyota also hinted at a series of “diverse BEVs” including a pickup truck (above) akin to the existing diesel-engined Hilux and an off-roader reminiscent of the not-for-UK FJ Cruiser, albeit in a more compact body.

The line-up of far-reaching concepts also featured a ‘Sports EV’ (below) – a low-slung, two-seat sports car – as well as another small crossover not dissimilar to the current Toyota Yaris Cross. A larger ‘Crossover EV’, possibly designed to eventually replace the RAV4, was the final passenger vehicle revealed by Toyoda and his team.

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As well as those core passenger models, Toyota also showcased a series of more commercial-focused vehicles, including the e-Palette, which the maker claims will “change the face of daily life in the city”. Its appearance is similar to that of a modern minibus; Toyoda said he hopes it'll eventually provide people with “freedom of movement in various scenes”.

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Finally, Toyota pulled the covers off a pair of vehicles referred to as the ‘Micro Box’ and the ‘Mid Box’. The former is a Citroen Ami-inspired take on the future of urban mobility, with designer Simon Humphries suggesting this model would specifically target car sharing, with “different variations cater to different business scenes”.

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The Mid Box (above) is a pure-electric commercial vehicle designed with last-mile deliveries in mind. Fairly conventional in its design, the Mid Box features a wide, tall load area and rear-hinged doors.

Toyoda said: “Most of the Toyota battery EVs that we introduced here are models that'll be coming out in the next few years. We aim to achieve global sales of 3.5 million battery EVs per year by 2030.”

Alongside the myriad new Toyotas, sister brand Lexus also unveiled a selection of concept cars, suggesting 100% of its sales in Europe will be pure-electric by 2030.