After an 18-month delay, Toyota finally launched its first electric car, the bZ4X, in Australia. Toyota looks to defend its title as the best-selling car brand in the country as EV leaders like Tesla are gaining market share.
Toyota launched the bZ4X electric SUV, its first EV in Australia, starting at $66,000 (plus on-road costs).
The electric SUV can be ordered as a FWD or AWD model. Toyota’s base FWD model starts at $66,000 with 332 mi (535 km) NEDC range, or 271 mi (436 km), according to WLTP standards.
Starting at $74,900, the AWD variant includes a second motor with up to 214 hp (160 kW). It includes up to 301 miles (485 km) NEDC range or 255 mi (411 km) WLTP.
Toyota says the electric SUV can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes with up to 150 kW DC charging.
The electric SUV includes a multi-instrument display, mimicking a head-up display. A 12.3″ infotainment is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible.
Toyota is offering a limited-time “Fully Charged Offer” with a 3-year full-service lease. The deal bundles service and maintenance costs, registration fees, CTP, tire replacements, Toyota Insurance, and Roadside Assist into one monthly payment.
The automaker is also offering a free JET charge 7 kW ABB home charger and Toyota Connected services for three years.
Toyota launches first EV in Australia to fend off Tesla
Toyota’s base bZ4X is still $600 more expensive than Tesla’s Model Y RWD. However, with $1,400 in shipping and another $400 for order fees, Toyota’s EV just undercuts Tesla’s Model Y, the best-selling EV in the nation.
Electric Vehicle
Starting Price (Australia)
Range (WLTP)
Toyota bZ4X FWD
$66,000
271 mi (436 km)
Toyota bZ4X AWD
$74,900
255 mi (411 km)
Tesla Model Y RWD
$65,400
283 mi (455 km)
Tesla Model Y AWD Long Range
$78,400
331 mi (533 km)
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
$91,400
319 mi (514 km)
Tesla Model Y vs Toyota bZ4X in Australia
The bZ4X is $3,500 less than the Tesla Model Y AWD model. It’s also over $7,500 more expensive than the Toyota RAV4 hybrid.
With 283 mi (455 km) WLTP range, Tesla’s Model Y RWD tops the Toyota bZ4X FWD at 255 mi (411 km).
Tesla’s Model Y Long Range offers up to 331 mi (533 km) WLTP range, easily topping Toyota’s first EV in Australia. Toyota said it only expects to deliver about 1,500 EVs in Australia this year, down from several thousand initially.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota’s Australia VP of sales, marketing, and franchise operations, Sean Hanley, told journalists in October that “Right now, hybrid-electric vehicles are a better fit than BEVs for most consumers.” Hanley added, “BEVs make sense in places like Norway,” but “Australia is not Europe.”
Despite the comments, Tesla’s Model Y is proving that theory wrong. The Model Y was the sixth best-selling vehicle (gas or electric) in 2023, topping Toyota’s Landcruiser and the Mitsubishi Outlander.
With a new National EV Strategy, Australia aims to boost EV adoption with affordable models, new dedicated resources, and infrastructure to enable rapid adoption.
As more charging stations roll out and new models hit the market, EV adoption is expected to continue climbing in Australia.
Can Toyota keep up as EV leaders like Tesla continue stealing market share? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Elon Musk has given an update with an outline for Tesla’s upcoming Full Self-Driving (FSD) software updates.
With FSD v12 and the upcoming launch of Tesla’s dedicated Robotaxi, there’s a lot of excitement around Tesla’s self-driving effort.
Musk is again in the too-familiar position of predicting that the automaker is close to releasing a true self-driving system, but the path to get there is still far from clear.
Now the CEO is providing some new comments on the upcoming release schedule for FSD:
“12.4 has almost completely retrained models. The final touches are for comfort, as it sometimes accelerates or brakes too fast for most people’s taste.”
Tesla FSD drivers are currently on 12.3.6 and the .4 update is expected to be a bigger step change, which Musk appears to confirm by saying that Tesla “completely retrained” the models.
The CEO recently said that Tesla is no longer constrained by training compute power after bringing more capacity online, giving the FSD team more opportunities to retrain neural nets with increasingly cleaner data.
Musk then continued about Tesla’s upcoming updates:
12.5 and 12.6 are in various stages of testing. We’re getting into rare, complex situations, for example: going down a narrow, one-way road, encountering a road closure and having to reverse out to find a new route. That closure also needs to be communicated to the rest of the fleet, so you don’t get a whole bunch of Teslas stuck down a road.
There’s no timeline for these upcoming updates beyond the fact that they are currently in internal testing, but Musk did say that v12.4 could come to the Tesla fleet as soon next week.
Electrek’s Take
Again, I’ve been impressed with v12.3.3-4. I’ve just got v12.3.6, but I haven’t had time to test it yet. I plan to do that this weekend. Also, I’ve been saying that if I start seeing decent improvements with the upcoming updates, I think I’ll start to see a clearer path to Tesla finally delivering on its promise – or at least a level 4 self-driving system.
However, as usual, when talking about FSD and especially when praising the system, I think it’s important to remind everyone that the keyword in ‘Supervised Full Self-Driving’ is ‘Supervised.’ Drivers need to remain attentive at all times and ready to take control.
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NIU Mother’s Day sale takes up to 46% off electric scooters
NIU has launched a Mother’s Day sale that is taking up to 46% off a selection of its electric scooter models through May 19. The biggest of these discounts and subsequently the most affordable of the models (aside from one for kids) is the NIU KQi1 Pro Electric Kick Scooter for $269.98 shipped. Normally fetching $499, this model saw a handful of discounts over the last year, often to its lowest rates during major sales events, with higher rates being more long-term at other retailers like Best Buy. Most recently we saw it fall to $300 during NIU’s Earth Day sale last month, with this month’s deal coming in as an even greater 46% markdown off the going rate that beats our previous mention by $30, giving you $229 in savings and landing it at the lowest price we have tracked.
Equipped with a 250W motor (450W peak) and a 243Wh battery, the NIU KQi1 Pro can reach top speeds of 15.5 MPH with a range of 15.5 miles on a single charge and it can handle up to a 14% incline. You’ll have four riding modes to choose from (E-save, sport, custom, pedestrian) as well as a dual braking system of a front drum brake with rear regenerative braking alongside pneumatic tires with “excellent shock absorbtion.” It also features a headlight, taillight, a foldable frame, a backlit LED display, and an array of smart capabilities through the NIU app, such as allowing you to lock your scooter, check your riding statistics, and even customize your scooter’s settings.
More NIU Mother’s Day discounts:
KQi Youth Electric Kids Kick Scooter, 6.2 to 10 MPH for 7-mile range: $210 (Reg. $299)
KQi2 Pro Electric Kick Scooter, 17.4 MPH for 24.9-mile range: $480 (Reg. $599)
KQi3 Sport Electric Kick Scooter, 17.4 MPH for 24.9-mile range: $600 (Reg. $699)
KQi3 Pro Electric Kick Scooter, 20 MPH for 31-mile range: $640 (Reg. $799)
KQi3 Max Electric Kick Scooter, 23.6 MPH for 40.4-mile range: $750 (Reg. $999)
KQi Air RD Electric Scooter, 20 MPH for 31-mile range: $998 (Reg. $1,399)
KQi Air X Lightest Electric Scooter (pre-order), 20 MPH for 31-mile range: $1,399 (Reg. $1,799)
Anker’s latest SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station returns to $499 low
The official Anker Amazon storefront is offering its SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station for $499 shipped, after clipping the on-page $150 off coupon. Down from its $649 price tag, this is only the third official discount since the device’s release in March, which saw a similar launch discount down to the $499 low. You can get a full rundown on what to expect from our initial launch coverage, or head below. All-in-all, you’re looking at a repeat 23% markdown off the going rate, which also matches the current discount on Anker’s website as well and returns costs to the all-time lowest price we’ve seen. You’ll also find bundle options available, with it coming with a 100W or 200W solar panel for $698 or $1,048, after clipping the on-page coupons.
The SOLIX C800 Plus sports a compact 768Wh capacity with 1,600W of power output. It can fully recharge in just 58 minutes via a wall outlet, 7.2 hours via your car, or just under three hours when paired with 300W of solar panel input. It features two water-resistant LED camping lights that have three modes to choose from: a candlelight mode that covers up to 10m², a flood light mode that covers up to 20m², and a flashlight mode that covers up to 20m² – all of them lasting up to eight hours.
The lights can be easily recharged by stowing them back inside the top of the power station’s case, and they even come with a versatile retractable pole arm that can be used as a hanger, tripod, or selfie stick when not being used to extend the camping light’s reach. To cover your other devices and appliances, you’ll have five AC ports, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and a car port. You’ll also be able to completely monitor and control its settings through the Anker SOLIX app, including enabling and disabling ports via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can also score the same model without the camping lights for $50 less, after clipping the on-page $150 off coupon.
EGO Power+ 10-inch Telescopic LED Cut Line Indicator Pole Saw Kit now $304
Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 10-Inch Telescopic LED Cut Line Indicator Pole Saw Kit for $304 shipped. Down from its $399 price tag, it only saw a few discounts over the last year, with four of them dropping costs to the same $299 low – the most recent being in February. Today’s deal comes in as a 24% markdown off the going rate and lands at the second-lowest price we have tracked. This 10-inch pole saw introduces an LED cut line indicator that improves visibility and accuracy when working under dark, shaded canopies and low light conditions. It’s brushless motor gives low vibrations for better control and extended life, while the 56V ARC lithium-ion battery allows it to make up to 100 cuts on a single charge. It features a telescopic carbon fiber shaft that extends out to a maximum length of 16 feet, a 10-inch bar, and 1/4-inch chain which all together can deliver smooth, precise cuts with a chain speed of 20 meters-per-second. It also has a quick-adjust handle and a shoulder strap for added comfort and control.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.