The smash hit Toyota we don't get: Budget friendly bZ3X electric car sells 20,000 units in China as a 2026 BYD Atto 3 and Kia EV3 sized rival

Toyota has just proven it can sell a lot of electric cars.

The bZ3X was launched in China several months ago, with prices starting at about the equivalent of A$24,000. That’s a shockingly cheap EV.

It is also slightly cheaper than the BYD Atto 3 in China, which is a better comparison, indicating it would be closer to $40,000 if it ever landed here.

It has proven immensely popular in China, with more than 20,000 units delivered to customers and a total of 30,000 orders, according to the brand’s official Weibo social media post.

Toyota Australia’s sole electric car, the bZ4X, is not a strong seller with only 427 units finding a new home through the first six months of this year.

The bZ3X is produced by Toyota’s joint venture with Chinese maker GAC. 

It shares its underpinnings with GAC’s Aion V electric SUV, which was due to go on sale in Australia this year.

In China the bZ3X is available with three different sizes of lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries: 50kWh, 58kWh and 68kWh. 

Driving range is either 430km, 520km or 610km depending on the size of the battery. All these ranges are calculated using the more lenient China Light-duty vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), expect range to be about 20 per cent worse if using the benchmark WLTP measurement. 

It is powered by a single electric motor that makes either 150kW or 165KW, depending on the variant, and drives the front wheels.

It is also fitted with advanced self driving technology, which is a major selling point in China. 

Inside there is a huge 14.6-inch central multimedia display and a smaller digital driver display.

Toyota has given no indication the bZ3X will be sold outside of China, but if it continues t be a red hot seller, it may prove too good to ignore.