Toyota Surges to Top 5 US EV Sales, Delays Highlander BEV
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- Toyota's EV sales surged 225% in Q2 2026, with 21,855 EVs sold in H1 (up 136% from 9,249 in H1 2025), earning it a top-5 US EV ranking with 4.7% market share per Cox Automotive.
- Toyota's 2026 bZ ranked as the fourth best-selling EV in the US, with 17,553 units sold through June, trailing only the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
- Toyota announced a two-month delay of the 2027 Highlander BEV — its first electric three-row SUV, originally scheduled for sale by end of 2026 — citing last-minute adjustments, though Electrek suggests the real motive is continuing gas and hybrid production.
- Tesla still dominates the US EV market with over 50% share through June, but Q2 sales dropped 13% to 124,800 and H1 sales fell 11% to 242,100 according to Kelley Blue Book estimates.
- The Highlander BEV delay could impact the Lexus TZ and Subaru Getaway, which the source notes are built on the same platform.
- The US EV market totaled 247,226 units sold in Q2 2026 per Kelley Blue Book, down 36% year-over-year but up 14.7% from Q1 2026, with Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales rising 8.6% to 20,730 units.
- Competitors are closing in on Toyota's three-row EV window: Rivian opened R2 reservations (Standard at $44,990, arriving 2027), Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Kia EV9 are gaining demand, and Tesla launched the Model Y L with a third row at $61,990.
Why it matters: Toyota's Highlander BEV was expected to undercut rivals at around $50,000, but a two-month production delay hands Tesla's new Model Y L ($61,990), Rivian's R2, and Hyundai's IONIQ 9 a window to capture three-row EV buyers Toyota won't reach until early 2027.
