Toyota Introduces bZ3X in China: Budget-Friendly EV with Lidar and Nvidia Tech

Toyota has unveiled the bZ3X in China, a budget EV priced from $15,150, featuring lidar, Nvidia Orin X, and a 520 km range. Discover how it compares to rivals and its market impact.

Toyota has made a bold move in China’s budget EV segment with the launch of the bZ3X. Priced between $15,150 and $20,707, it’s not just Toyota’s most affordable EV in the country—it’s also one of the most compelling options on the market. The demand was immediate and overwhelming, with 10,000 orders placed within the first hour, causing Toyota’s website to crash.

The bZ3X is available in seven trims: five with standard driver assistance features and two featuring lidar-powered advanced autonomous functions. It runs on a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with 50-58 kWh capacity, offering up to 520 km (323 miles) of range on the Chinese CLTC cycle.

With 200 horsepower and a 400V architecture, it charges from 30% to 80% in just 24 minutes. But the real game-changer is its tech. The Nvidia DRIVE Orin X chip, boasting 254 TOPS of computing power, combined with a 27-sensor suite (lidar, cameras, ultrasonic, and millimeter-wave radars), pushes this budget-friendly EV into an entirely new league in terms of driving assistance.

China’s EV market is fiercely competitive, with over 100 brands fighting for market share. The main rivals to the bZ3X include the BYD Yuan PLUS, Geely Galaxy E5, and Xiaomi SU7.

• BYD Yuan PLUS packs 204 hp and offers 510 km CLTC of range.
• Geely Galaxy E5 has a 218 hp motor and 530 km CLTC range.
• Xiaomi SU7, while not a direct competitor, boasts an up to 101 kWh battery and high performance.

What sets the Toyota bZ3X apart is its autonomous driving technology, a rare feature in the budget EV segment.

For now, the Toyota bZ3X is exclusive to the Chinese market, with no official word on international expansion. However, its early success might push Toyota to consider launching it in other regions.

If Toyota decides to bring the bZ3X to Southeast Asia, Europe, or Latin America, it could significantly shake up the affordable EV landscape. For now, the company seems determined to establish a strong foothold in China—and based on the response so far, it’s off to a flying start.

Source: insideevs.com