Toyota Australia says it still expects to sell around 1500 bZ4X electric SUVs this year, and won’t slash prices to boost sales as rivals like Tesla and Ford have done. “No change in prices, I’ll let the others play in that market – good luck!” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia vice president for sales, marketing and franchise operations. “We don’t have to, our aspirations for bZ4X are around 1500 [sales].
We believe we’ll sell around that number for the year still. “We certainly have no intentions of dropping the price on that car. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
“We don’t have any pressure on that car, it is what it is. It’s our entry into the EV market. “We do believe it’ll play a role and a significant role in the future, but we’ve got a lot of learnings from our hybrid experience back in October 2001, we know it takes time.
“The benefit of a multi-pathway strategy, is we have time on our side I believe to settle that vehicle, establish its credentials in the market which it’s doing. And then, as time goes on, we’ll continue to grow our EV sales in natural sync with the market demand.” Toyota had previously said in August 2023 it expected to deliver several thousand bZ4Xs in 2024, but earlier this year lowered its official target to just 1500 sales.
It started deliveries in February 2024, and Toyota has thus far has sold 555 examples – more than its Subaru Solterra twin (278 sale.