Toyota’s new EV, the bZ3X, is set to take the Chinese EV market by storm. Details were announced at the Guangzhou Motor Show 2024 on November 15, 2024, with a planned release date of March 2025. As the new flagship of the bZ series, the bZ3X has been thoroughly designed to meet the needs of Chinese consumers. What kind of appeal does it have? We take a closer look at it all.
Toyota bZ3X: Overview of the EV for the Chinese market
- A new SUV from Toyota’s pure electric sub-brand, the bZ series.
- Manufactured and sold by GAC Toyota as a China-exclusive model.
- The needs of Chinese consumers are reflected from the development stage.
- A practical family SUV.
- Despite its compact size, it offers spacious interior space and luggage space.
Exterior
- The front face has a friendly design that combines sharp lines and smooth curves.
- From the side view, the three-section waistline creates a relaxed silhouette.
- At the rear, the thin strip of taillights creates a sense of width.
interior
- Simple yet sophisticated design.
- Equipped with a 7-inch landscape display (instrument panel) and a 12.3-inch touch display (center).
- Equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset for smooth operation.
- Equipped with a Yamaha sound system consisting of 11 speakers.
Powertrain
- Two types are available: single motor (two-wheel drive) and twin motor (four-wheel drive).
- Cruising range (CLTC): Single motor 615km, Twin motor 560km.
advanced technology
- It is equipped with the advanced driving assistance system “Momenta 5.0,” which was jointly developed with Chinese autonomous driving startup company “Momenta.”
- ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) is compatible with both highway and city driving.
- Equivalent to autonomous driving level L2++.
- Supports hands-off driving, automatic entry into branching lanes, automatic parking, and parking operations from outside the vehicle.
- It uses the latest hardware, including NVIDIA’s Orin-X chipset (254 TOPS) and a 126-line LiDAR unit.
price
- 100,000 to 150,000 yuan (approximately 2.13 million to 3.2 million yen).
Release date
- Scheduled to be released in March 2025.
What is the latest model in the bZ series, the China-exclusive SUV “bZ3X”?
The bZ series is a key part of Toyota’s electrification strategy. Following on from the globally available SUV “bZ4X” and the China-exclusive sedan “bZ3”, the long-awaited “bZ3X” is now available.
Jointly developed by Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., and IEM by TOYOTA, this family-oriented SUV-type BEV is based on the concept of “COZY HOME,” a comfortable mobile home, and offers spaciousness and comfortable living space. Equipped with the latest driver assistance system and smart cockpit, it not only provides a safe and comfortable drive, but also new experiential value.
The bZ3X is an EV manufactured and sold by GAC Toyota, specially designed for the Chinese market. It was jointly developed by GAC Toyota and Toyota, with the voices of Chinese consumers reflected from the development stage. Its distinctive feature is that it is a practical family SUV, with a spacious interior and luggage space despite its compact size.
New bZ3X: Exterior and interior packed with cutting-edge technology
TOYOTA BZ3X
The bZ3X’s design is both advanced and practical. The front face combines sharp lines and smooth curves, creating a friendly impression befitting a family car. From the side, a three-section waistline creates a streamlined silhouette, while narrow window frames and wide wheel arches emphasize strength. At the rear, thin, strip-shaped taillights create a sense of width. The design combines sportiness with a sense of stability. 19-inch wheels are used. The body dimensions are: length: 4,600mm, width: 1,875mm, height: 1,645mm, wheelbase: 2,850mm.
TOYOTA BZ3X
The interior is simple yet sophisticated. The instrument panel features a 7-inch landscape display and a 12.3-inch touch display in the center. This style, which is mainstream in Chinese EVs, provides an interface that is familiar to users. In addition, the car is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset, ensuring smooth operation. A Yamaha sound system with 11 speakers provides a high-quality music experience. The car is also equipped with seven airbags.
New bZ3X autonomous driving level L2++ advanced driver assistance system “Momenta 5.0”
The most notable feature of the bZ3X is the advanced driver assistance system “Momenta 5.0,” which was jointly developed with Chinese autonomous driving startup company “Momenta.” This is the first time that a Toyota vehicle will be equipped with an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) that is also compatible with urban driving.
Momenta 5.0 combines LiDAR and camera images to generate high-definition maps in real time, enabling advanced driving assistance not only on highways but also in complex urban areas. The autonomous driving level is equivalent to L2++, and it is equipped with a variety of functions such as hands-off driving, automatic entry into branching lanes, automatic parking, and parking operation from outside the vehicle.
The system uses the latest hardware, including NVIDIA’s Orin-X chipset (254 TOPS) and a 126-line LiDAR unit, to achieve advanced autonomous driving that is comparable to competing vehicles from Chinese manufacturers.
New bZ3X: Surprising Pricing and Impact on the Chinese Market
The bZ3X is priced at 100,000 to 150,000 yuan (approximately 2.13 million to 3.2 million yen), which is very competitive considering its advanced features. With Chinese manufacturers releasing low-priced EVs one after another, the bZ3X’s price advantage will be a major asset.
GAC Toyota is already selling the bZ4X, and the introduction of the bZ3X will further strengthen its EV lineup in the Chinese market. Anticipation is building for future developments, with the company also planning to launch a production model of the bZ7 Concept mid-size EV sedan within the next year.
The rise of Chinese manufacturers has led to a decline in the market share of Japanese and European manufacturers, including Toyota. The bZ3X is an EV that embodies Toyota’s emphasis on safety and its commitment to meeting user needs, and is sure to bring a breath of fresh air to the Chinese market.
The challenges of autonomous driving technology behind the new bZ3X’s China-exclusive sale
On September 22, 2020, the company filed a trademark application for the “BZ3X” with the Japan Patent Office ( Trademark Application No. 2020-116944 ). Unfortunately, the bZ3X is a China-exclusive vehicle. This is due to the fact that legal regulations and interpretations regarding autonomous driving technology vary by country and region. Furthermore, concerns exist in Europe and the United States about the security risks posed by Chinese tech companies. The Chinese government is also wary of data leaks from imported EVs and has restricted communication functions. EV development is shifting from a performance competition to a software competition driven by the shift to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), but differences in regulations between countries and regions present new obstacles.
The exclusive sale of the bZ3X in China is a reflection of this situation. In order to deploy autonomous driving technology globally, it is essential to comply with the laws and regulations of each country and region, forcing automakers to develop technology tailored to each market.
A word from the editorial department
The Toyota bZ3X is an innovative EV that meets the needs of the Chinese market, combining advanced technology with price competitiveness. Its Momenta 5.0 ADAS, which is designed for urban driving, is sure to have a major impact on the Chinese EV market.
The success of the bZ3X will not only contribute significantly to Toyota’s increasing presence in the Chinese market, but also has the potential to become an important indicator of the future direction of EV development.
GAC Toyota bZ3X
