Toyota’s bZ4X electric vehicle arrives at dealers this Spring, catalyzing the Japanese automaker’s launch into pure EVs, its first in nearly ten years.
“The all-electric Toyota bZ4X SUV not only looks to further Toyota’s commitment to a carbon-neutral future, but it does so in style,” the company said after launching the vehicle this morning. “Ready to make a fresh mark on the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) segment, bZ4X blends bold, modern styling with tech-laden features in an extremely capable platform.”
Credit: Toyota
The bZ4X is Toyota’s first addition to the global bZ series, which stands for “Beyond Zero.” Designed and developed with human-centricity at the heart, Toyota said it hopes to provide more than a mobility solution for customers, but also an innovative space for drivers to imagine a new era of the company’s vehicles.
The bZ4X is a competitive and attractive option for electric vehicle buyers. Important metrics like range and performance are at the focal point of any consumer’s decision in the emerging EV sector, and Toyota brought some competitive numbers to the table with its introductory bZ offering. The bZ4X offers 252 miles of range in its XLE front-wheel-drive models and will start at just $42,000. Not to mention, the bZ4X’s body style is a common selection in the U.S. market. Combining functionality with a sleek design, it is neither bulky nor restrictive.
Credit: Toyota
Toyota said the design of the bZ4X is one that focuses on a “dynamically flowing silhouette.” “The profile of the bZ4X is balanced and sleek, with dynamic character lines that flow from front to rear,” the automaker said. It is a sporty look that also encapsulates some futuristic features, like the enclosed grille area that is simply not feasible on a gas-powered vehicle. Despite its design, it still has the classic Toyota look, keeping the vehicle unique in its own way, not veering too far away from the overall feel of its cars.
Four Trim Levels, All Under $50k
Toyota will offer four trim levels for the bZ4X: two grades with XLE and Limited and two drivetrains, front-wheel and all-wheel-drive.
- 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE FWD – $42,000
- 2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited FWD – $46,700
- 2023 Toyota bZ4X XLE AWD – $44,080
- 2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD – $48,780
Front-Wheel-Drive trim levels will produce 201 horsepower, with All-Wheel-Drive configurations offering slightly more at 214. Instant torque will help the bZ4X achieve a 7.1-second 0-60 MPH time for the FWD trims and just 6.5 seconds for the AWD drivetrains.
All bZ4X models are equipped with a J1772/CCS1 socket, so home and public charging will be a breeze. Toyota said that there is also a 6.6 kW onboard charger, which allows the bZ4X to charge from low to full in about 9 hours with a Level 2 charger at home or in public.
Credit: Toyota
Toyota’s Big Plans for EVs
About a quarter of Toyota’s total sales in the United States in 2021 were of its electrified vehicles, it said. However, these are not pure EVs, and included hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids.
There are big plans for pure EVs at Toyota, however, despite its focus on other powertrains for many years. Globally, Toyota plans to expand to around 70 electrified models by 2025, featuring 15 dedicated pure EVs. Seven of the fifteen will feature the bZ brand moniker. “This diverse portfolio of electrified products will help propel Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” the company added. “Globally, Toyota has put more than 20 million electrified models on the road – with a CO2 emissions reduction effect equivalent to the CO2 emissions reduction of over 5.5 million BEVs. Over the next nine years, Toyota will invest $70+ billion in electrified vehicles as a whole with the target to launch 3.5 million BEVs globally in 2030.”
Toyota debuts bZ4X SUV concept, kicking off its 15 electric vehicle lineup
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Rivian has strengthened its AI strategy by appointing Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of generative AI startup Cohere, to its board. Gomez’s appointment was announced through a regulatory filing. The move underscores Rivian’s ambition to lead in automotive software and AI-driven autonomy.
Gomez is a data scientist and AI expert. He launched Cohere in 2019, focusing on AI foundation models for enterprises like Oracle and Notion. Gomez will be on Rivian’s board until 2026. His appointment expands Rivian’s board and aligns with the company’s $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen Group to develop software. The venture leverages Rivian’s electrical architecture expertise, licensing intellectual property, and may sell tech to other firms in the future.
Gomez’s expertise is a strategic fit, with CEO RJ Scaringe stating the AI expert’s “thinking and expertise will support Rivian as we integrate new, cutting-edge technologies into our products, services, and manufacturing.”
Rivian’s AI efforts include an AI assistant for its EVs, which has been under development since 2023, according to the automaker’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid.
“The AI work, which is specifically on the orchestration layer or framework for an AI assistant, sits outside the joint venture with VW,” Bensaid told TechCrunch.
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas sees Rivian’s value in its AI and autonomy potential, not just its EVs. “We see scope for Rivian to play a more important role in AI-enabled autonomy with potential milestones in 1H25,” Jonas said, highlighting the upcoming period as “consequential to determining Rivian’s place in the autonomous vehicle race.”
Jonas believes Rivian stands out as a non-Tesla, U.S.-based “software-defined” company with a fully integrated, AI-driven autonomous platform fueled by advances in generative AI and large language models.
Gomez’s board role positions Rivian to capitalize on AI innovations, enhancing its software leadership and autonomous vehicle development. As the EV maker navigates its Volkswagen partnership and internal AI projects, Gomez’s expertise could drive breakthroughs, reinforcing Rivian’s dual identity as an EV manufacturer and a tech innovator in a competitive landscape.
News
Tesla Model Y gets five-year, zero-interest financing deal in China
The program was announced by the electric vehicle maker through its official Weibo account.
Tesla has launched a five-year, zero-interest financing deal for the new Model Y in China.
The program was announced by the electric vehicle maker through its official Weibo account.
Model Y Financing Program Details
The new five-year, zero-interest financing deal is available through June 30, and it applies to all Model Y variants, the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and long-range all-wheel-drive (AWD), which start at 263,500 yuan ($36,300) and 313,500 yuan ($42,950), respectively. Buyers can qualify for the program by paying a down payment of as low as 79,900 yuan ($10,950), with monthly payments starting at 3,060 yuan ($420).
It should be noted that prior to the recently announced program, Tesla China had offered a three-year, zero-interest financing deal for the new Model Y RWD and AWD.
New Model Y Sales So Far
Tesla’s new five-year, zero-interest financing program comes amidst heightened competition in China’s electric vehicle sector. For context, the company sold 74,127 vehicles domestically in March, up 18.8% year-over-year, as noted in a CNEV Post report. From this number, the Model Y accounted for 48,189 deliveries.
During the week of April 14-20, Tesla China also saw 6,800 new vehicle registrations, suggesting that Giga Shanghai is focusing on exports this month.
Other Updates And Incentives
Tesla China also extended an 8,000-yuan insurance subsidy for the Model 3 through April 30. A five-year, zero-interest financing program was launched for the all-electric sedan as well. To qualify, buyers would have to pay a down payment of as low as 79,900 yuan ($10,950), with monthly payments starting at 2,460 yuan ($340).
A new Star Diamond Black paint option for both the Model Y and Model 3 was also announced. Delivery times remain steady as well, with the Model Y RWD seeing a 2-4 week wait time and the Model Y Long Range AWD seeing a 3-5 week wait time. The Model 3 is listed with a 1-3 week wait time for all its variants.
Hyundai Motor Group and Posco Holdings have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a U.S. steel plant in Louisiana, leveraging a three-month suspension on President Trump’s tariffs. The partnership strengthens Hyundai’s U.S. manufacturing strategy, which includes investing billions into the country to increase production.
Posco will take an equity stake in the Louisiana steel factory, which is set to begin production in 2029 with an annual capacity of 2.7 million tonnes, per a Hyundai Steel regulatory filing. The $5.8 billion project, part of Hyundai’s broader $21 billion U.S. investment unveiled last month with President Donald Trump, may see Posco sell some of the plant’s steel output. The initiative aligns with Hyundai’s efforts to localize production and mitigate tariff impacts.
President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korea this month but paused the levies for three months later. In response to the impending Trump tariffs, Hyundai’s U.S. COO Claudia Marquez launched the Hyundai Assurance Program during the 2025 New York International Auto Show.
“When it comes to the customers, which again is tough and even for us just for planning purposes, what we wanted to make sure is that we have a plan, so we launched our Hyundai Assurance Program, which is confirming and assuring to customers that [prices] are not going to go up, at least this next couple of months,” Marquez said, emphasizing price stability.
Hyundai Motor Group has boosted production in the United States since President Donald Trump was reelected. The South Korean automaker wants to limit the impact of Trump’s tariffs through its plants in the United States, namely the factories in Georgia and Alabama.
“Hyundai Motor and its partners are investing $12.6 billion (18.4 trillion won) in an assembly plant and two battery joint ventures, enabling additional production capacity. The decision to make this investment was made during the first Trump administration,” said Hyundai’s President and CEO Jose Muñoz.
The Posco partnership enhances Hyundai’s supply chain resilience, which is critical as Trump’s tariffs loom. By 2029, the Louisiana plant could reduce reliance on imported steel, aligning with Trump’s domestic production goals. Hyundai’s strategic investments and Assurance Program position it to navigate trade uncertainties while reinforcing its presence in the U.S. market.
Rivian Boosts AI Strategy with Cohere CEO’s Board Appointment
Tesla Model Y gets five-year, zero-interest financing deal in China
Hyundai & Posco partner for US steel plant amid Trump tariff pause
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