After a slow start, Toyota is looking to shake things up with its next round of electric cars. Toyota’s second best-selling SUV in the US, the Toyota Highlander, is going fully electric. It could be followed by other familiar names like the Tacoma and Tundra.
The Japanese automaker has been notoriously slow in transitioning to fully electric vehicles. As of right now, Toyota only offers two EVs in the US: the bZ4X and Lexus RZ. And that’s it for at least another two years.
Toyota, including Lexus, sold over 565,000 vehicles in the US in the first three months of 2024. Of them, only 3,500 were fully electric, or 0.6% of Toyota’s total sales.
Meanwhile, many automakers are already at double-digit or 100%, EV sales share at this point. For example, Rivian, which delivered its first vehicle in October 2021, handed over 13,588 EVs in Q1.
Despite falling behind, Toyota has stuck to its hybrid strategy, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (EVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs).
To avoid falling further behind, Toyota is promising new EVs powered by advanced batteries with new tech and manufacturing practices to cut costs and improve efficiency.
2024 Toyota bZ4X (Source: Toyota)
Toyota to launch electric Highlander SUV in the US
“We have always been committed to building BEVs,” David Christ, GM of Toyota’s US Division, told CarBuzz during the 2025 4Runner debut.
Christ added, “You’re going to see more BEVs from us in the future.” This will include a fully electric Toyota Highlander SUV.
Toyota revealed it would build a three-row electric SUV at its Georgetown, KY facility as its first US-assembled EV last May. In February, Toyota invested an additional $1.3 billion into the facility to prepare it for EV production.
Toyota three-row electric SUV concept (Source: Toyota)
According to CarBuzz, this will be an electric version of its popular Highlander SUV. Lexus is also set for a three-row electric SUV, which could go by the name “TZ,” according to a trademark filing.
Further out, Toyota is looking at an electric compact pickup and EV-version for its mid-size Tacoma. However, it will depend on the market.
Toyota EPU electric truck concept (Source: Toyota Motor)
An electric full-size Tundra pickup is also in the works, but Toyota is watching rivals like the Ford Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck to weigh demand.
First, Toyota will expand its PHEV line-up. “We’re going to expand plug-in availability throughout the line-up fairly quickly,” Christ explained. New Toyota PHEVs could include a Sequoia SUV, Tundra, and Tacoma.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota sold over 169,500 Highlander SUVs in the US in 2023, its second best-selling SUV behind the RAV4. It only makes sense for an all-electric version.
Meanwhile, several larger electric SUVs are already climbing the sales charts in the US. Rivian’s R1S was the fourth best-selling EV in the US last year. Kia sold over 4,000 units of its first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, in Q1, which launched in December.
On the other hand, Ford is pushing back production of its larger SUV as it develops a new low-cost EV platform.
The first models are expected to be a smaller electric pickup and SUV. Due out in 2026, Ford’s new EV is expected to start at around $25,000.
By 2026, an electric Toyota Highlander may not seem so special, with so many automakers planning to launch new EVs by then (or release 2nd and 3rd gen models).
One of the biggest takeaways from the report is that Toyota may drop the “bZ” naming system and focus on popular models like the Highlander or Tundra.
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Royal Enfield’s eagerly anticipated electric motorcycles, unveiled late last year under the Flying Flea brand, are now confirmed to hit the market early next year. Eicher Motors Managing Director B. Govindarajan narrowed down the release window, confirming that the two models currently in testing, the FF-C6 and S6, will debut in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2026, corresponding to January through March 2026.
The announcement provides a clear timeline for eager e-motorcycling enthusiasts who have closely followed Royal Enfield’s pivot to electric mobility. Previously, the company had remained relatively tight-lipped about exact launch dates and even many of the upcoming bikes’ key specs, only hinting that the electric motorcycle project was progressing steadily.
The Flying Flea name is a historical nod, reviving memories of Royal Enfield’s lightweight motorcycle originally used during World War II for airborne operations. Just like its iconic namesake, the new Flying Flea electric motorcycles are expected to be compact, accessible, and user-friendly, aiming at urban commuters and younger riders seeking a blend of heritage styling with modern electric propulsion.
The FF-C6 and S6 represent two distinct offerings within Royal Enfield’s electric lineup, signaling an ambitious start for the company’s electrification strategy. While specific technical details remain scarce, previous hints suggest that the models will prioritize practicality, affordability, and moderate performance suited to daily commuting rather than high-end, performance-oriented segments.
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However, with a dearth of solid specs regarding power, range, or pricing, it’s too soon to tell how warmly the bikes may be received during their upcoming launch.
This cautious yet clear step into electric mobility aligns with Royal Enfield’s traditional ethos of delivering approachable motorcycles that combine classic design with dependable performance.
The company, owned by Eicher Motors, has enjoyed success internationally over the last decade, particularly with models like the Classic 350, Meteor 350, and Himalayan, which have resonated strongly with both new and experienced riders. The Flying Flea line is likely destined for international markets as well, though may launch solely in India first as Royal Enfield works to ramp up production.
Royal Enfield’s venture into electric motorcycles also follows a strategic €50 million investment by Eicher Motors into Stark Future, a cutting-edge electric motorcycle startup based near Barcelona, which likely helped Royal Enfield’s technical team.
For example, at the Flying Flea brand’s worldwide unveiling at the Milan Motorcycle Show last year, one of the company’s driving prototypes was spotted using several Stark VARG powertrain components to complete a working model for demonstration.
With electric motorcycles rapidly gaining popularity worldwide due to their efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and environmental advantages, Royal Enfield’s entry into this market comes at an opportune time. The company’s robust global presence and dedicated fan base provide a solid foundation for launching these models successfully.
With the success of relatively smaller electric motorcycles compared to the struggles of larger sport bike e-motorcycle companies, the Flying Flea appears positioned for a more welcoming market.
Given Royal Enfield’s knack for delivering motorcycles with a blend of nostalgic aesthetics and modern functionality, expectations are high for the FF-C6 and S6 to carve out their own distinct niche in the electric two-wheeler market. For now though, fans are still eagerly awaiting more information and details regarding the performance and price of the upcoming electric two-wheelers.
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It’s been less than a month since XPeng Motors began teasing a new camouflage sedan codenamed the E29. This morning (or this evening if you’re in China), XPeng unveiled the mystery sedan as its next-generation P7. This vast redesign of the Chinese automaker’s flagship BEV sedan is a bona fide stunner, and makes me wish I could drive one of my own in the US.
The P7 debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2019 as XPeng’s first sedan and its second production model behind the now-discontinued G3 SUV. It was also the first XPeng model I ever drove during a trip to the Netherlands in 2022.
In its first two years of production, which began in 2020, XPeng built over 100,000 units of its flagship sedan, and the sport vehicle has remained a pillar in its global sales. Since its launch in China, we’ve seen XPeng deliver a 2023 refresh called the P7i and the P7+, complete with pure camera vision ADAS, which launched last fall as “the world’s first AI car.”
According to an internal letter sent out by XPeng founder, chairman, and CEO He Xiaopeng last December, the Chinese automaker has big plans for 2025 and beyond. It aims to become a globally recognized brand with a presence in over 60 countries by the end of the year.
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The internal letter also stated XPeng’s plans to launch a new or facelifted model nearly every quarter in 2025. In Q1, we saw the debut of the G7 SUV, starting at an ultra-competitive price of around $34,000 in China. Since then, XPeng has been teasing another new model, codenamed “E29,” spotted driving around Guangzhou, where XPeng is headquartered, in camouflage last month.
Today, XPeng confirmed the E29 is not a bespoke model, but instead a completely new generation of the P7, dreamt up by Chief Designer Rafik Ferrag, who led the creation of the original 2020 model. Have a look:
Source: XPeng Motors
XPeng shares first images of its stunning new P7 design
XPeng shared the initial images seen above alongside a brief press release outlining its exciting new design language as explained by its designer, Rafik Ferrag, who began teasing the new model on his own social media accounts earlier this week:
I’m very excited that the first official pictures and video are now visible to everyone. The original P7 was a milestone for XPENG and a turning point in China’s EV landscape. With this new generation, we set out to design a pure electric sports sedan that could amaze at every angle. This car is our dream—refined through countless iterations. In my eyes, the all-new XPENG P7 is a work of art, shaped with emotion and purpose.
The Chinese automaker explained that the new 5-seat P7 coupe reflects Ferrag’s “evolving design philosophy” and has been in development for the past five years. XPeng founder He Xiaopeng called it a “major upgrade” for the brand’s next leap in BEV technology, blending AI with luxury and the company’s new Turing Smart Driving system.
What specific technology the next-generation P7 holds remains unknown to the public at this time, but we were told more details will be revealed later. For now, we have our first official peek at this new futuristic model and a teaser video, which you can view below.
If the new P7 represents XPeng’s design language going forward, there should be many more exciting reveals in 2025 and beyond as the brand continues to expand into a globally recognized name.
Source: XPeng Motors
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The Persian Gulf Star gas condensate refinery in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2019.
Ali Mohammadi | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Oil prices fell sharply on Thursday on expectations that the U.S. and Iran may soon reach a deal over Tehran’s nuclear program.
International benchmark Brent crude futures with July expiry were last seen trading 3.2% lower at $63.99 a barrel, paring some of its earlier losses. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures, meanwhile, stood at $60.98, down 3.4% for the session.
Speaking in Doha, Qatar during his Middle East trip, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was getting close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran.
“We’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace,” Trump said.
His comments come shortly after a top advisor to Iran’s supreme leader told NBC News that the OPEC producer was ready to sign a nuclear deal with certain conditions in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The prospect of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal is expected to have profound implications for oil markets.
“The overnight development of a possible nuclear deal is the sole reason for the morning’s weakness. If an agreement is reached, Iran agrees to halt enriching weapon grade uranium and the deal is effectively enforced, which is hard to believe, then the Persian Gulf country’s crude oil exports can rise by as much as 1 [million barrels per day],” Tamas Varga, an analyst at brokerage PVM, told CNBC via email.
“It sounds price negative, but its impact will possibly be mitigated by OPEC+ rolling back on its plan to release barrels back to the market faster than originally planned,” he added.
OPEC and non-OPEC partners, an influential energy alliance known as OPEC+, has surprised markets by raising supply in recent months.
Led by Saudi Arabia, the group agreed in early May to increase output by another 411,000 barrels per day in June. The move came one month after OPEC+ agreed to boost production in May by the same amount.
Economic pain
Iran’s economy has deteriorated dramatically in the years since Trump in 2018 withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, formally titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The agreement was brokered in 2015 along with Russia, China, the EU and U.K. under the Obama administration to curb and stringently monitor Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief.
Already facing several years of protests, significantly weakened currency, and a cost-of-living crisis, the Islamic Republic was hit with the hammer blow of losing its main ally in the Middle East last year, when the Assad regime collapsed in Syria. Tehran’s archenemy Israel, meanwhile, killed most of the senior leadership of Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was formerly staunchly opposed to negotiations with the U.S., but senior Iranian government officials reportedly launched a coordinated effort to change his mind, framing the decision as critical to the regime’s survival.