Toyota is now planning to build EVs in Europe with a wave of new electric SUVs and crossovers launching soon. The company is preparing its Czech plant to produce up to 100,000 electric vehicles a year.
Toyota plans to build EVs in Europe
Is Toyota finally stepping up to the plate? Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker unveiled a range of new electric SUVs and crossovers that are set to arrive in Europe over the next few months.
By the end of the year, Toyota will launch three new electric SUVs, including the updated bZ4X, CH-R+, and Urban Cruiser. In 2026, three more EVs will follow.
And that’s just Toyota brand models. Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand will introduce a few new electric vehicles of its own. Lexus is scheduled to launch three new electric vehicles over the next year, starting with the updated RZ SUV.
According to a new Nikkei report, Toyota is now planning to build EVs in Europe for the first time. Toyota will begin producing electric vehicles at its new “mega hub” in the Czech Republic.
The news follows a 17 million euro ($19.5 million) investment Toyota made in 2024 to upgrade the facility to boost its presence in Central Europe.
Toyota will begin building electric vehicles at the facility as early as 2028, marking its first local EV production in Europe. The hub is expected to produce around 100,000 EVs a year once operational.
In the first half of 2025, Toyota sold a record 591,115 vehicles in Europe, making it the second best-selling brand behind Volkswagen. Although sales of Toyota and Lexus brand EVs rose 42% in H1, the Japanese automaker is facing new competition, especially from China.
Chinese car brands, led by BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Leapmotor, and Xpeng, outsold Mercedes-Benz in Europe last month. They are even outselling Ford in Europe so far this year, with a combined market share of 5.1%.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota is doubling down on local production to fend off the incoming competition. Later this year, the company will start building EVs in Indonesia and Thailand, two key markets where Chinese brands are quickly gaining momentum.
Earlier this year, Toyota also said it plans to build electric vehicles in the UK in the future. However, it didn’t specify when or offer any other details.
The Czech plant will serve as Toyota’s third full-scale EV production base, following China and Japan. In the US, Toyota recently announced plans to shift EV production into its Kentucky plant to expand output of the Grand Highlander.
Toyota’s long-awaited three-row electric SUV is now scheduled to enter production at the facility in late 2026, a year later than initially planned.
Can Toyota keep up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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