Toyota has started selling its cheapest model in China, and it’s so popular that it’s crashing the website
- Toyota has launched its cheapest EV model ever in China
- The bZ3X has a price tag of just $15,150
- The carmaker received thousands of orders, crashing its servers
Published on Mar 10, 2025 at 6:28 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Mar 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Toyota launched its cheapest ever EV – the bZ3X – in China and received thousands of orders within the first hour, crashing its servers.
The Japanese automotive giant first unveiled the bZ3X in early 2023, before showcasing the near-production model one year later.
This month, the new EV SUV was launched with a super-low price tag of just $15,150 and – as you might imagine – it was a hit.
The carmaker was absolutely inundated with customers and received more than 10,000 orders in under 60 minutes.
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Don’t let the price tag fool you, the bZ3X has a lot to offer
The bZ3X is only the third EV release from Toyota, which previously made history after releasing the Toyota Mirai – the first mass produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV).
And while you might not expect much from a car that’s selling for a little over $15,000, the new release is a Toyota, so you may be surprised what’s on offer.
The five-door, five-seater measures 460cm (181.1 inches) in length and stands at 160cm (62.9 inches).
The front-wheel drive bZ3X is powered by a single motor that is mounted on the front axle.
It’s available in two output options: the base model that comes with 201 horsepower and the slightly more beefy 221 horsepower version.
There are also three battery options, including a 50kWh that offers 430km (267 miles) of range between charges; a 58.4kWh that has 520km (323 miles) of range; and a 67.9kWh that can do 610km (379 miles).
The launch of the new Toyota was so successful it crashed servers
Inside, you’ll find the sort of tech you’d expect to find on a 2025 model car – an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen that are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip.
There’s also an impressive 11-speaker Yamaha audio system.
Currently the vehicle is only on sale in China and it’s fair to say it’s been a particularly successful launch for the carmaker.
So much so that Toyota said it received a staggering 10,000 orders within an hour of its release.
The influx of orders caused the website to crash, but the servers are now back up and running.
The launch comes just weeks after Toyota slashed the price of its Mirai, which has become one of the cheapest cars on sale in the United States, currently available for less than $20,000 in California.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
