Key Takeaways
- Toyota is set to produce two new electric crossovers in Kentucky, based on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser.
- Production is scheduled to start next year, coinciding with the end of American combustion Lexus production.
- The automaker is expanding its electric vehicle offerings to better compete in the EV market, having previously been slow to adopt.
New Electric Crossovers Planned by Toyota
Toyota has announced plans to manufacture two new electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States, both of which will feature three rows of seating and be manufactured at its Kentucky plant. Reports indicate that these vehicles will draw inspiration from the popular RAV4 and Land Cruiser models.
These will be Toyota’s first American-made battery electric vehicles, utilizing the automaker’s specialized e-TNGA platform instead of a traditional internal combustion architecture. Production is anticipated to commence next year, likely at the same facility that currently assembles the Lexus ES sedan.
To facilitate this production shift, Toyota will soon halt the manufacturing of combustion-engine Lexus models in America, with plans to shift future production to Japan. This change aligns with Toyota’s earlier teaser of the new three-row SUVs, including the Land Cruiser Se concept, which emerged in 2023. Although the Land Cruiser has a reputation for off-road capabilities, this concept appears more geared towards urban settings, resembling dimensions similar to the Toyota Grand Highlander.
Details surrounding the RAV4 EV remain sparse, but it is expected to be somewhat smaller than the Land Cruiser EV, aligning more closely with the upcoming hybrid-only RAV4 model.
Despite a sluggish start in the EV market, Toyota is preparing to ramp up its electric vehicle offerings to compete more effectively with rivals. Currently, the only Toyota-branded EV available in the United States is the bZ4X, but the company plans to introduce the updated 2026 bZ alongside two new models—the C-HR and the larger bZ Woodland—by the end of the year. After these launches, the new three-row crossovers will follow suit.
Toyota has historically maintained that a diversified approach to powertrains, which includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles, constitutes a more effective strategy for reducing emissions than solely focusing on an all-electric lineup.
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