Farewell to "bZ4X" and similar cryptic codes. As upcoming vehicles transition to electric versions, Toyota is revamping its naming conventions.
Before long, purchasing an electric Toyota won’t require solving equations involving b, Z, or X anymore.
At its annual Kenshiki Forum event in Brussels last week, Toyota officials announced a plan to walk away from its confusing and often-criticized naming scheme for electric cars, which has yielded models with names like bZ4X , bZ3 and bZ3X Instead, new electric vehicles will be christened using names from "Toyota’s existing and well-known model lineups," according to officials.
"Andrea Carlucci, who leads marketing and product development for Toyota Motor Europe, stated, 'This strategy will be extended since every future electric vehicle we introduce will naturally form an essential component of our Toyota range,'" he explained.
Although no representatives from Toyota confirmed specific details about which new models would adopt this revised naming scheme during the event, they did express an intention to leverage the company’s established brand value, much like how previous model generations have done. RAV4 EVs .
2026 Toyota bZ4X Live Images
However, CarluCCI suggested how things could progress with the introduction of two new and anticipated electric vehicle models. One of them is the Urban Cruiser , which is currently a compact electric crossover available in Europe under a nameplate that has been intermittently used over the past twenty years and recalls the renowned Land Cruiser brand. The other model is the new C-HR+, a mid-size crossover. using the same name as a hybrid version However, it is entirely different from the vehicle in question.
Masaya Uchiyama, who serves as the lead engineer for the bZ4X, stated InsideEVs that this decision was a step towards integrating all-electric vehicles into everyday use.
We chose 'bZ4X' as the name because it was something fresh. Uchiyama said. " Currently, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are growing in popularity and becoming more commonplace. Initially, these vehicles appealed mainly to innovators and early adopters. However, they are now attracting what we call the ‘early majority.’ We believe it’s time to establish a common or recognizable term for BEVs since such vehicles are no longer considered extraordinary.”
Uchiyama is accurate regarding this aspect. Electric vehicles constituted roughly one-tenth of all new car sales in the United States during 2024, setting a new record. In Europe, however, the figures are more impressive, exceeding those in the U.S. approximately 15% of newly sold cars are electric In January within the European Union, those figures rise considerably based on which EU country you consider; for instance, in Belgium, electric vehicles (EVs) account for almost 30% of the new car market , while in Norway—where the bZ4X has consistently topped the sales charts—the electric vehicles (EVs) are essentially 90% of newly sold cars .
Toyota has been traditionally hesitant about completely adopting electric cars And rather than focusing solely on this, they have adopted their "multiple pathway" strategy for providing various kinds of vehicles. However, with the persistent expansion of the electric vehicle market, particularly within Europe, even the globe’s biggest car manufacturer feels compelled to enhance its presence there. By late 2026, Toyota plans to introduce an additional trio of fully electric models; speculation suggests that among these might be a pickup truck as well as possibly being linked to what would become the manufacturing edition of The Land Cruiser Se concept .
Land Cruiser Se Concept
Auto manufacturers frequently face challenges when deciding how to name their upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) as these become increasingly popular, potentially leading to the complete replacement of gasoline-powered models in various series. Some companies choose distinctive monikers for their EVs such as the Kia EV3 or Hyundai Ioniq 5; however, others hesitate to discard long-standing brand value and familiar identification. For instance, Audi has taken this route. lately discarded a complex plan Where EVs would have even-numbered models such as the A4 and Q6, while gas-powered vehicles would use odd numbers.
On Toyota's part, it's improbable that many individuals will lament the absence of the " Beyond Zero 4 Crossover especially since this modern electric RAV4 is essentially an electrified version under another name. Introducing electric variants of the Sienna, Tacoma, and Corolla could make it far more appealing for enthusiasts of these vehicles to transition away from gas-powered models.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
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