- Toyota will reportedly offer range-extender models starting in 2027.
- The technology will be applied to Chinese-market models.
- The goal is to reach an annual production of 400,000 EREVs by 2028.
Toyota is known for its expertise in hybrids and its refusal to put all its eggs in the EV basket, which proved to be the right move in such a volatile automotive landscape. The world’s best-selling automaker is now reportedly preparing its first EREVs (range-extender EVs).
For those who find it hard to comprehend the different types of electrification, EREVs are basically EVs with the addition of a small gasoline engine used as a generator for the battery pack to extend driving range. This differentiates them from Toyota’s current self-charging hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) lineup, in which the combustion engine is directly connected to the wheels.
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As reported by Nikkei Asia, Toyota plans to start production of EREVs in April 2027. However, the yet-unnamed models won’t go global, as they are specifically developed for China’s growing demand for EREVs.
EREVs are being promoted in China as an alternative to pure EVs, albeit without the intense price war. They are also less reliant on the charging network due to having a fuel tank and a convincingly long driving range, often exceeding the 620-mile (1,000 km) threshold.
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Toyota reportedly wants to build around 200,000 EREVs in 2027, before ramping up annual production to 400,000 units in 2028. To get a better idea of the scale, Toyota sold 200,000 EVs, 180,000 PHEVs, and 4.433 million HEVs worldwide in 2025.
While it is not clear whether Toyota will introduce EREV variants of existing models, its EV lineup in China includes the bZ3 and bZ7 sedans, the bZ3X SUV, the bZ4X crossover, and the bZ5 fastback crossover. The best candidate for an EREV variant is the Toyota bZ3X, as its GAC Aion V sibling is already available with an EREV setup using a 1.5-liter engine.
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It will be interesting to see if the range-extender technology will be applied to Toyota EVs available in other markets. Still, this doesn’t sound like a priority, as hybrid Toyotas are selling like hotcakes.
