Toyota EV Sales Surge 225%, Delays Highlander BEV
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- Toyota Q2 EV sales jumped 225% year-over-year, earning a top-5 US EV ranking with a 4.7% market share, per Cox Automotive's Q2 2026 report
- Toyota sold 21,855 EVs in H1 2026 (up 136% from 9,249 a year earlier), driven by its 2026 bZ plus the new C-HR and bZ Woodland SUVs
- Tesla still dominates the US EV market with 50%+ share (124,800 Q2 sales, down 13% YoY), while Chevrolet held second at 6.1% and Hyundai third at 5.8% with the IONIQ 5 (20,730 units)
- Toyota delayed production of the 2027 Highlander BEV—its first electric three-row SUV—by at least two months, keeping the 2026 gas/hybrid model on sale through December
- Electrek notes the delay could ripple to the Lexus TZ and Subaru Getaway, both built on the Highlander's EV platform
- The total US EV market sold an estimated 247,226 units in Q2 (down 36% YoY but up 14.7% from Q1), with buyers now eyeing Tesla's new three-row Model Y L ($61,990), the Hyundai IONIQ 9, Kia EV9, and Rivian's upcoming R2 ($44,990)
Why it matters: Toyota is splitting the difference on EVs—posting its biggest US sales gains in years while pulling its most anticipated battery-electric model. With the Highlander's sub-$50,000 price window now on pause, three-row electric shoppers get handed directly to the Tesla Model Y L, Hyundai IONIQ 9, Kia EV9, and Rivian R2 before Toyota can compete. The delay also puts the Lexus TZ and Subaru Getaway (same platform) on the bench.
