Toyota delivered a result contrary to the prevailing trend in the U.S. electric vehicle market during the third quarter of 2026, as its electric and hybrid vehicles helped raise sales at Toyota Motor North America, including Lexus, to 633,233 vehicles, an increase of 0.6% compared with the same period in 2025.
Although General Motors remained ahead with total sales of approximately 671,000 vehicles in the United States during the quarter, its quarterly sales declined 6% year over year. GM attributed the decline to the small size of the electric vehicle market and the halt in production of some models.
bZ Performance Raises Toyota’s Electric Presence
The Toyota bZ, the updated version of the bZ4X, was the company’s standout electric vehicle. After selling 2,381 units in the third quarter, its sales reached approximately 25,000 vehicles during the first nine months of 2026. As a result, it surpassed the Chevy Equinox EV, which recorded total sales of 18,154 units during the same period, even though that model remained GM’s best-selling electric vehicle.
The bZ ranked fourth among the best-selling electric vehicles in the United States during the first half of the year, behind the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Tesla Model 3, and Tesla Model Y.
Toyota currently sells three fully electric models in the U.S. market: the bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland. Lexus adds the RZ and ES EV, with the ES also available as a hybrid. Through September, Toyota had sold approximately 7,215 C-HR vehicles and 2,600 bZ Woodland vehicles, while Lexus recorded sales of 10,214 RZ vehicles and 10,333 ES vehicles.
Why Does This News Matter?
The figures indicate that expanding the model lineup may be an important factor in Toyota’s ability to maintain growth in its electric vehicle sales, particularly with the bZ starting at $35,000, placing it among the least expensive electric vehicles in the United States alongside the Chevy Bolt EV, Nissan LEAF, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
However, the data alone does not prove that this momentum will continue over the long term. The comparison also comes in a market that has experienced a shift in demand following the expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit at the end of September 2025, which brought some demand forward into earlier periods.
Expansion in Models and Technical Infrastructure
Lexus plans to launch its first three-row electric sport utility vehicle, the 2027 TZ, later this year, while the Toyota Highlander BEV is expected sometime in 2027. Toyota said electrified vehicles, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hybrids, accounted for 57.4% of its total sales in the third quarter.
In parallel, the company opened the Battery Center of North America in the city of Saline, Michigan. The facility covers 30,000 square feet and will focus on developing, testing, and improving the next generation of batteries for Toyota vehicles.
This move shows that Toyota’s electric expansion is not limited to increasing the number of models, but also includes building local battery-development capabilities. Nevertheless, the current figures remain tied to the U.S. market and a specific period, and are not sufficient on their own to assess the profitability of the electric vehicle program or the sustainability of demand after the incentives end.