Toyota’s first mass-produced electric car, the bZ4X, has faced harsh criticism from buyers, prompting the company to rethink its strategy – even considering scrapping the car’s name.
Despite these challenges, Toyota remains optimistic about its future in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Norwegian Toyota importer Piotr Pawlak acknowledged the missteps with the bZ4X, emphasizing that the company is learning from the experience.
“We’ve learned from the bZ4X crisis,” he told Motor. “Future models need to meet Norwegian demands, particularly regarding charging capabilities and four-wheel drive.”
Bumpy Roads for the bZ4X
Toyota’s bZ4X has struggled to gain traction, with drivers criticizing its limited range, poor performance on winter roads, and overall practicality as an electric vehicle (EV). Despite being Toyota’s flagship entry into the EV market, the model has fallen short of expectations.
Despite these setbacks, Piotr Pawlak, Toyota’s Norwegian managing director, is optimistic about the company’s future in one of Europe’s most EV-dominated markets.
He believes that by 2026, Toyota will become Norway’s best-selling car brand, thanks to a lineup of new electric models set to launch.
“We’ve done well with just one electric car. With the new models, the sky’s the limit,” Pawlak said.
While he concedes that 2025 may be too soon to claim the top spot, he is confident that Toyota will dominate the market by 2026.
In response to the challenges faced by the bZ4X, Toyota’s headquarters in Japan has announced plans to scale back EV production and focus on refining its electric lineup.
Pawlak, however, is confident that the lessons learned from the bZ4X will help Toyota carve a stronger path in the electric market moving forward.
