Toyota Expands EV Lineup in China with bZ5 Coupe SUV

Published: 18 Jun 2025

Author: Precedence Research

Share :

The official debut of the third electric car in the Chinese market by Toyota has taken place - the bZ5 is a stylish coup-SUV and another milestone on the way to the electrification of the brand. The bZ5 is co-developed in a joint venture with the FAW of China and uses the Toyota-owned e-TNGA platform, with BYD providing its Blade Battery technology. It is offered at a price of 129,800 yuan (approximately A$27,800) and is competitively placed in the Chinese EV market, which is showing tremendous growth. The step allows Toyota to further develop its bZ (Beyond Zero) electric sub-brand and meet the growing needs of customers in the world's largest auto market.

The automobile flaunts the brand-techtonic design language of a “hammerhead shark” in the front fascia, especially in the form of its headlights and the general profile, which shares a resemblance with its twin, the bZ4X. This styling choice seems to be calculated as urban Chinese consumers are looking at sportiness, elegance, and efficiency in a single package.

Toyota has evidently focused on providing a high-end user experience, and so it has provided features such as 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, a 10-speaker JBL sound system, and as many as nine airbags to keep the occupants safe. Furthermore, the other genuinely special features are the inclusion of relaxation modes with the passenger being able to take naps and over 30 driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

Although Toyota is a relative straggler into the EV bubble relative to Chinese competitors, such as BYD, NIO, and XPeng, the arrival of the bZ5 marks a more ambitious approach by the Japanese giant. Notably, this is despite the ongoing doubt by the global leadership of Toyota regarding EV adoption.

As inflationary language, former CEO Akio Toyota has notably said that battery EVs are even dirtier than hybrids in terms of their total lifecycle emissions. That said, what Toyota is doing points to a company gradually shifting out of hybrids and into a more comprehensive array of electrified choices, although it continues to follow a “multi-pathway” strategy that also encompasses hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cells, and battery electrics. This introduction highlights the changing attitude of Toyota towards electric mobility. The company has become aware of the shifting sands in the major markets, such as China, though it is still cautious. Furthermore, Toyota is taking on a new direction by embracing collaborations with local players, such as BYD and FAW, and utilizing domestic supply chains to further expand their reach around the world