Toyota bZ3 EV Sedan Debuts in China – BYD-Toyota First Brainchild

Chinese companies’ current monopoly of the EV battery market has not only spawned many Chinese EV manufacturers, but also prompted established automakers to collaborate with them.

Toyota has recently launched its brand-new EV, the bZ3. This sedan is the result of FAW Toyota – Toyota’s Chinese manufacturing arm – and BYD’s collaboration in providing additional boost to the marque’s EV line-ups.

Part of Toyota’s latest bZ EV family, the bZ3 is a four-door all-electric vehicle featuring similar design language found in its older sister, the bZ4X. Its slanting roofline is being cut-off by the straight angular tail side – giving a more sport-back look than a traditional sedan. The front fascia is said to be inspired by hammerhead sharks with raised angular nose and sharp headlights design akin to the Yaris Ativ.

Thanks to the streamlined, flowing roofline, the bZ3’s drag coefficient only reads at 0.218 – lower than the sub-0.3 figures found in most modern sedans nowadays.

Inside the bZ3 cabin lies Toyota’s ‘Digital Island’ floating infotainment display. Portrait-oriented like a Tesla, said display houses multiple controls from the climate controls, media stuff and even for opening the boot. A raised driver’s digital cluster metre pops out of the dashboard, offering a better viewing angle than the standard through-the-wheel metre cluster position.

Built upon Toyota’s proprietary e-TNGA platform, the Japanese brand claimed up to 600 KM of range (CLTC). Said platform provides a lower centre of gravity and more rigid chassis work, offering more stability and better handling.

BYD’s involvement in this project comes in the form of the bZ3’s power plant package – made out of lithium ion phosphate battery. With no official capacity disclosed, said package is claimed to retain 90% of its capacity even after ten years of usage.

As this model is poised for exclusive Chinese market release, wouldn’t it be nice if Toyota Malaysia decides to make the bZ3 its official debut into our local EV space? With the government's commitment in improving EV infrastructure nationwide, sooner or later UMW Toyota must decide on its big step of venturing into EVs if they don’t want to miss out against other big brands like BMW, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz.