TOYOTA 2026 bZ Electric SUV Tops 17,500 Units Sold in First Half

The 2026 TOYOTA bZ electric SUV (still marketed overseas as the bZ4X) continues its strong momentum in the U.S. market. According to official TOYOTA data, the model sold 17,553 units in the first half of 2026 — a 90% year-on-year increase — making it the third-best-selling battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in the U.S. so far this year.

This performance significantly outpaces several TOYOTA gasoline-powered SUVs: sales have already surpassed those of the Land Cruiser (16,412 units) and Sequoia (13,939 units). Among peers, it also holds an edge — the Chevrolet Equinox EV sold 16,249 units in the same period, down 41% YoY; while the Hyundai IONIQ 5 posted over 20,000 units sold, up 9% YoY, maintaining a narrow lead.

The 2026 bZ focuses on practical upgrades: range increases by 25%, reaching up to 314 miles (~505 km); it features a more powerful motor, adds battery pre-conditioning, and comes standard with the NACS charging port — enabling direct access to Tesla's Supercharger network. With a starting price of just $35,000, it sits squarely in the mainstream affordable BEV segment alongside the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan LEAF, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.

Beyond the bZ, TOYOTA's U.S. electric SUV lineup includes the C-HR EV (3,748 units sold in H1) and the bZ Woodland (554 units). Lexus is also ramping up efforts: its RZ model sold 7,814 units in the first half — ahead of Cadillac's Lyriq (7,578 units) and Optiq (7,083 units).

Notably, TOYOTA and Lexus plan to jointly launch their first three-row all-electric SUV in 2026 — the 2027 Highlander BEV and Lexus TZ — potentially expanding their electric portfolio further.

Although global auto sales fell 7.2% in May 2026, TOYOTA's BEVs bucked the trend: worldwide BEV sales hit 155,074 units that month — up 138% YoY. Still, TOYOTA maintains a multi-powertrain strategy, covering BEVs, HEVs, PHEVs, and conventional internal-combustion vehicles. Industry analysts note that while short-term growth is impressive, mounting competition — including Rivian's R2, Lucid's upcoming midsize crossover, and Ford's new models built on the UEV platform — may intensify pressure in 2027.