2023 Toyota bZ4X Preview

Hi All:

The bZ4X August 2022 production schedule has been severely curtailed due to parts supply shortages.

2023 Toyota bZ4X


All dressed and ready to dance but missing the dance partner (customer) along the Pacific.​

From a Toyota Japan release earlier this week, Toyota would like to apologize for the repeated adjustments to their production plans due to the parts shortage resulting from the spread of COVID-19, and for causing considerable inconvenience to customers, who have been waiting for the delivery of vehicles, suppliers, and other parties concerned.

As for the announced domestic operations suspension in August due to the shortage of semiconductors (August Production Plan), Toyota has decided to reduce the period of the scheduled production suspension. They will utilize the parts meant to be used during the partial plants/lines suspension caused by heavy rain damage in Aichi Prefecture and its surroundings. The global production forecast for August remains unchanged (approx. 700,000 units).

It remains difficult to plan ahead due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, there is a possibility that the production plan may be lowered yet again. However, they will examine the parts supply closely to minimize sudden decreases in production, and continue to make every effort possible to deliver as many vehicles to our customers at the earliest date.

The following is the revised domestic operations suspension schedule for August.

Toyota Adjustments to Japanese Production Plan for August

Plants: Motomachi Plant

Production Model(s): bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, MIRAI

Period of production suspension: Aug 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31

This compares to 2 days of August production curtailment for the Prius, Prius Prime and Corolla, 2 days for the Corolla Sport and Camry, 11-days for the Lexus LX and Land Cruiser 300, 1-day for the Land Cruiser 70, and 1-day for the RAV4.

 

Hi All:

Toyota September Production Plan

Toyota would like to again apologize for the repeated adjustments to their production plans due to the parts shortage resulting from the spread of COVID-19, and for causing considerable inconvenience to its customers, who have been waiting for the delivery of vehicles, suppliers, and other parties concerned.

The global production volume for September is expected to be approximately 850,000 units (approx. 250,000 units in Japan and 600,000 units overseas). In last month's production plan, they announced that the average monthly production plan for the next three months (August through October) would be approximately 850,000 units, and that the planned production volume for September is in line with this plan.

At the time of this announcement, the global production plan for September through November has been revised to a higher volume, estimated to average about 900,000 units per month. Yeah!!!

This plan is based on careful confirmation of parts supply and the personnel structures and facility capacities of their suppliers. However, it remains difficult to look ahead due to the spread of COVID-19 and other factors, and they will continue to make every effort possible to deliver as many vehicles as possible to their customers at the earliest date while closely examining the situation.

The production forecast for the fiscal year remains unchanged (approx. 9.7 million).

The following is the revised domestic operations suspension schedule for September.

Toyota Adjustments to Japanese Production Plan for September

Plants: Motomachi Plant

Production Model(s): bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, MIRAI

Period of production suspension: September 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

With the loss of the $7,500 Fed TC, the bZ4X could again run into a lot of headwinds.

I heard VW is holding up their 23 ID.4s at the Chattanooga plant until the Fed TC qualifications are completely hashed out. It is being built in the U.S. but the battery supply balance may not meet the Fed $7,500 TC requirements?

Volkswagen ID.4

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VW Group and Canada just signed an agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government on battery value creation and raw material security. VWs battery company, PowerCo SE, pushes ramp-up of its global battery business, further proof of VW’s ambitious growth strategy in North America.

Wayne

 

Hi Bill:

Here in Nashville, of the big 3 Toyota dealerships, there is only 1 available.

The 23 Prius shows just 4 on the same 3 dealerships lots.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

While bZ4X sales are falling short of expectations, they are positive as indicated by US sales through Q3 of 2024.

Toyota sold 13,577 bZ4Xs YTD in the US through Sept. of 2024, that result was up 109.3% over the 6,486 sold through the same period of 2023. That said, there is a new marketing push, hopefully to increase the models sales.

The new bZ4X marketing campaign, “A Secret Worth Sharing,” tells viewers that Toyota makes an all-electric vehicle of its own. The campaign was developed using Toyota’s long-standing Total Toyota (T2) marketing model. The T2 model integrates efforts to create a cohesive marketing approach inclusive of multicultural marketing and the mainstream market. The T2 agency team includes Saatchi & Saatchi and Intertrend. The campaign spots are highlighted below:

Monster

Tears

Not Made Up

Gas Station

I will say that with the onslaught of current and incoming hot BEV CUVs from Hyundai/Kia, Ford, GM, Audi, and Porsche, the bZ4X with its 100 KW charging capability and short 236-miles of AER from the AWD, they need to radically upgrade its feature set to be competitive. Maybe the refresh will take care of some of its shortcomings but I am not confident with that assessment.

Wayne

 

Hi Litesong:

At least a 2023 XLE w/ 30k miles should be available for about half of its original $42,000 + TTL new retail price?

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That 2024 Ioniq 5 lease looks to be a pretty good deal by comparison however.

"Somewhat" Hot Deal - 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 13-month Lease - $86 Per Mo With $1,235 Down

Wayne

 

Hi All:

2024 Toyota bZ4X Limited

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I have a 2024 Toyota bZ4X FWD Limited (112 MPGe city/92 MPGe highway/102 MPGe combined) or (3.3 mi/kWh city/2.7 mi/kWh highway/3.0 mi/kWh combined) in the drive this week. Its 71.4 kWh Panasonic pack allows at least a 150 kW peak charge rate vs the AWD's 72.8 kWh CATL pack that is limited to just 100 peak KW. Both provide ~ 64 kWh useable.

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The 24 bZ4X was not redesigned or refreshed for year 2 and now the 2025 being year 3, but this is my first time with a FWD in Limited trim. While EPA rated at just 236 miles, it appears to provide a lot more range than that over the day I have driven it. I hope to attach it to an EA V4 350 KW charger when I drive it down to 5% and complete the Charging profile.

Also, I am not a fan of this MPGe $**t conversion I have had to use on all EVs Speed vs Energy Economy graphs -- dividing MPGe/33.7 (the energy content in kWh of one gallon of gasoline) but if anyone has a better solution, by all means, throw me a note.

With an ~ 64 kWh useable Li-Ion pack and a 102 MPGe/3.0 mi/kWh combined rating, its EPA rated range would be more along the lines of just 192-miles while it is EPA rated at 236 miles.

It arrived with 93% SOC and is parked at 53% (40% of useable SOC consumed), after covering an indicated 134.8 miles (not calibrated) at 5.1 mi/kWh.

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Wayne

 

Hi Chris:

I am reading about $10k off retail for all upcoming 2025 bZ4Xs. And they should be knocked down by even more. The extremely short range - 252/236 miles for the FWD XLE/Limited and 228/222 miles for the AWD XLE/Limited, the slow charging rates FWD/AWD 150 KW/100 KW, and a max of 2 DCFC charge sessions over any 24-hour period limit before derating to just over L2 rating on DCFC #3, it is at least a generations behind the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Ariya is short on charge rate (peak 135 KW) so that one is out too.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Maybe tonight I will have the bZ4X down to my 5% target to get a full 5 to 80% DCFC.

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And maybe I will use the actual miles traveled vs SOC fall from 93% to 5% of the useable 64 kWh to come up with a proper calibration. The indicated 5.1 mi/kWh is a bit optimistic compared to the 203.8 mi (indicated)/[(65% SOC consumed * 64 kWh useable)] = 4.9 mi/kWh.

When I complete the steady states, I usually cover just over 100-miles and will complete the odometer offset while completing those tonight or tomorrow night.

I think this will work best for an actual calibrated offset and more accurate Speed vs Energy Economy graph going forward.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I have a ton of data for (2) 5 to 80% DCFC's, an L2 Charge, and the Speed vs Energy Economy but I must run out to attend my granddaughter’s ballet recital. I will try and get some more of this done when I get back tonight.

2024 Toyota bZ4X Limited


Moments after the Speed vs Energy Economy early this morning.


Odometer offset = Odometer * (+1.0137)


262.0 miles indicated (265.6 mi act) from 83% to 5% SOC (49.9 kWh of 64 kWh useable consumed) = 5.32 mi/kWh vs 5.1 mi/kWh indicated. Good to know.


Front to rear seating. Just enough and very similar to most Toyota's with my 6' + frame front to back.


Completed 5 to 80% DCFC on a new Electrify America V4 BTC Cabinet.


Both the first and second 5% to 80% SOC DCFC took 36-min and a few seconds.


The 5 to 80% DCFC profile.


An L2 Charge from initiation at 22% SOC to completion at 100% at my home two nights ago.


The huge negative is the driver display blocked by the wheel. This is my sightline with the tilt adjusted to its most comfortable level.​

Moving onto the rear cargo volume, the bZ4X is competitive with the compact CUVs but it is not the size of a RAV4.

2024 Toyota bZ4X Cargo Volume


68" deep to the first row - 38" deep to the second row - 29" high - 38" width with a max size box fitting into the rear = 43.4 cu. ft.​

And some conclusions… The pricing is all over the map as any remaining 2024 and 2025 has an $18k and $10k lease cash offer attached. The $7,500 Fed TC is applied retroactively on a lease purchase via the Lease loophole. What that means on a monthly payment offer and the very important residual to buy out is unknown to me. The 2024 bZ4X, FWD Limited that we drove lists at $51,744 incl. D&H.

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Regarding range and charging performance, the bZ4X no matter the trim is woefully inadequate. There are rumors of the 2026 having a vastly improved charging performance and improved range. I will be eagerly awaiting that release… As of this writing, a 36-minute charge from 5 to 80% allowing the EPA rated 236 miles to cover just 177-miles AND the ability to DCFC just twice over any 24-hour period before only allowing 11 kWh, L2 charging rates afterwards for any road trip beyond 500-miles from full is untenable. By comparison, the RWD, 318-mile range, 2025 Hyundai Ioniq charging on the same EA 350 KW DCFC charges from 5 to 80% in just 18-minutes, half the time, while offering up 238 miles from that single charge. To put this comparison into perspective, if both vehicles start out with a 100% SOC, a 12-hour road trip for example finds the Ioniq 5 owner covering ~ 700-miles. The bZ4X can reach ~ 575-miles in 12-hours and after that, the maximum L2 rate BMS stops the owner in his or her tracks.

I will state despite lack of proof that the bZ4X reliability and longevity will bury all its competitors outside the Lexus RX which is built off the same platform. The bZ4Xs efficiency is noteworthy at 4.5 to 5 mi/kWh, but I have experienced similar results in the Mach-E, the EV6, and Ioniq 5. Beyond that however, there are simply to many headwinds for the bZ4X to compete. Until the 2026s specs have been rereleased, I would skip this one as it is closer to a compliance car thanks to its very low 236-mile range and poor charge profile along with that driver view of the driver display.

Wayne