Toyota may be riding high with its hybrid-heavy lineup and ambitious plans to have 20% of US sales come from plug-in hybrids by 2030, but the company isn’t stopping there. It also has big plans to expand its electric vehicle offerings in the US. By mid-2027, Toyota and Lexus will introduce no fewer than seven new EVs across North America, including a range of models that could give it the edge against the competition.

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First, Toyota is adding a few more electric options to its own lineup. Expect the facelifted bZ4X crossover (now named the bZ), the bZ Woodland, the C-HR, and an upcoming three-row SUV. On the Lexus side, the RZ crossover will be joined by an electric version of the new-generation ES sedan introduced last month and a larger SUV to boot.

US-Made Electric SUVs Are Coming

While many of these models will be imported, the big news is that the upcoming three-row SUVs, one from Toyota and one from Lexus, will be manufactured right here in the United States. After a brief delay, production will start in 2026 at two factories in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Princeton, Indiana. These new electric SUVs will go head-to-head with the likes of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, which are also targeting the growing demand for larger electric vehicles.

Toyota isn’t diving into the EV market without a plan. According to Bloomberg, the company typically adds a new model to a factory only when it’s confident it can move 100,000-150,000 units annually. While US EV adoption is expected to grow at a slower rate than anticipated, Toyota has a strategy to keep production moving. Any excess EV output from its US factories will be sent to overseas markets where demand is ramping up faster.

Cooper Ericksen, Senior Vice President, Product, BEV and Mobility Planning and Strategy at Toyota Motor North America, explained: “We’ll sell a little bit more every year and grow with the market. But we have to think about how many Canada will use, how many the US will use, and we can then export to other global destinations.” Of course, the company hopes that its export plans won’t be affected by a potential escalation of the tariff war.

A Long-Term Commitment

Currently, electric vehicles account for just 8% of automotive sales in the US, but Toyota expects that number to double by 2030. Ericksen pointed out, “BEVs right now aren’t incremental volume for us. They’re cannibalizing our volume. But in the future, we think it’s a really important segment that we don’t want to give up to the competition.”

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On the production side, Toyota is setting up a lithium-ion battery plant in North Carolina, which will power its US-made EVs and hybrids. Once fully operational, the plant will have a production capacity of over 30 gigawatt hours, enough to power 800,000 hybrids, 150,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and 300,000 battery electric vehicles annually.

Toyota has pledged to offer an electrified option across all of its models this year. Right now, about 80% of Toyota and Lexus models in the US are available with either hybrid or EV options. With these moves, Toyota is aiming to cement its position in the growing EV market, even if the journey to widespread adoption is a gradual one.

The Lexus ES has never been Europe’s sedan of choice, but the Japanese brand is clearly determined to change that with the latest generation. After debuting globally at the Shanghai Auto Show in China, the ES is making its European premiere a month later, hoping to give heavy hitters like the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Audi A6 a run for their money.

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A fixture in the Lexus lineup since 1989, the ES has had a rather slow and steady European introduction, making its way into Eastern Europe in 2010 and arriving in Western Europe only in late 2018. It was seen as an indirect successor to the now-discontinued GS, though many might argue it never quite found its European groove.

New Design, New Powertrains

The eighth-generation ES comes with a complete redesign that aims to improve its appeal. The exterior is fresh and modern, with a body-colored spindle grille flanked by sharp, slimmer L-shaped headlights. Hybrid models feature a slim grille for added cooling, while the EV models take a more minimalist approach to the front end.

The profile is now more aerodynamic than before, with a smooth sloping roofline that leads to a fastback-style rear. At the back, a full-width LED bar and sharp shoulder lines give it a more aggressive stance.

In terms of size, the new ES has grown. A lot. It’s now 165 mm (about 6.5 inches) longer than the previous model, with an extra 80 mm (3.1 inches) between the axles, making for a far roomier interior.

A Tech-Filled Interior

Step inside, and Lexus has clearly worked to elevate the tech experience. The highlight is a massive 14-inch infotainment screen, marking the largest display in any Lexus model so far, and which can be customized with various shortcuts and widgets. It’s paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. However, for Europeans, the option for a passenger display that is available in China, seems to be off the table.

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Lexus also promises a quieter cabin, thanks to improved sound insulation and higher-quality materials. The interior features include illuminated panels made using a printing technique called bamboo layering, as well as synthetic leather embossing. The “Hidden Switches,” touch-sensitive controls that appear only when the car is on, are a neat trick. For audiophiles, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound System is available.

Comfort has been improved too thanks to the new seat design, with a higher seating position for easier ingress/egress, a reclining rear bench, and greater support for the front passengers. If you’re being chauffeured, you’ll be happy to know that the front passenger seat has a folding function that maximizes rear legroom. Finally, there is an enhanced Lexus Safety System + ADAS suite.

Hybrid And EV Options

The new ES rides on an improved version of the TNGA-K architecture, which already underpins several vehicles in the group, including the Toyota Camry and the Crown Crossover. The new generation introduces a multi-link system on the rear axle, alongside a new suspension setup and increased rigidity. According to Lexus, these upgrades result in an improved ride quality and a more composed drive.

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When it comes to the powertrains, European buyers will have a choice between two self-charging hybrid options in FWD and AWD configurations. The base ES 300h produces 199 hp (148 kW / 201 PS), while the ES 350h is more powerful with 244 hp (182 kW / 247 PS), both relying on the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

For the first time, however, the ES is available with fully electric powertrains. The FWD-only ES 350e produces 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS) and comes with a 77 kWh battery. The flagship ES 500e, with AWD, produces 338 hp (252 kW / 343 PS) and carries a 75 kWh battery pack. Lexus hasn’t confirmed the official WLTP range figures yet, but they expect the most efficient model to go up to 530 km (329 miles) on a single charge.

Availability

European sales of the new Lexus ES are expected to kick off in Spring 2026, with final pricing and detailed specs to be announced closer to launch. Whether this new generation can make a dent in the dominance of European luxury sedans remains to be seen, but it’s certainly taking its best shot.

Lexus Europe