As drivers look for alternatives amid rising gas prices, Toyota has been an unexpected winner, with EV sales more than doubling in March.
Toyota EV sales surge as drivers switch from gas cars
Toyota, the most outspoken automaker in not going all-in on electric vehicles, has benefited from surging gas and oil prices due to the US-Iran war.
The Japanese automaker reported on Monday that global battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales reached 35,525 in March, an increase of 139% from the same period last year.
March was Toyota’s best EV sales month to date as interest in electric vehicles continues rising amid higher gas and oil prices.
Toyota saw the highest growth in its home market of Japan, with close to 3,500 EVs sold, an increase of 4,117% from March 2025. The company sold another 32,000 purely electric vehicles overseas, more than double the previous year’s figure.
In Europe, Toyota’s battery electric vehicle sales rose 85% in the first quarter to 25,640 units, led by the updated bZ4X.
Although higher gas prices are sparking interest in electric vehicles across the globe, Toyota has also seen considerably higher demand since introducing the upgraded bZ4X.
Launched in October, the refreshed bZ4X became the best-selling domestic EV for the first time in the second half of fiscal 2025. March was the electric SUV’s fifth consecutive month as the most popular domestic EV.
In the US, Toyota’s upgraded electric SUV, sold as the bZ, was the third-best-selling EV in Q1, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
Toyota improved the bZ4X (bZ) in areas that matter most, with increased driving range, faster charging, and modern tech and features.
The 2026 Toyota bZ now offers up to 314 miles of range, a 25% improvement from the outgoing bZ4X. It also features a built-in NACS port, enabling drivers to access Tesla’s vast network of Superchargers.
On the inside, Toyota upgraded the infotainment with a larger 14″ screen as standard and redesigned the center console.
It also helps that the 2026 bZ is among the most affordable EVs you can get your hands on in the US, starting at just $34,900.
Electrek’s Take
While Toyota’s EV sales have improved considerably over the past year and are showing early signs of potential, they’re still a fraction of what BYD sells every month.
BYD sold 147,601 purely electric vehicles last month alone and is ramping up overseas production as it looks outside of China for growth this year. BYD and other Chinese EV manufacturers are quickly gaining market share in many of Toyota’s most important markets, including Europe, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and even its home market, Japan.
Toyota has branched out into different markets with new models like the smaller C-HR+ crossover (C-HR in the US), the off-road-focused bZ4X Touring (bZ Woodland), and the compact Urban Cruiser SUV. Later this year, it will introduce its first three-row electric SUV, the Highlander BEV, in the US.
The updated bZ4X (bZ) and new models are a start, but Toyota will face stiffer competition with several new low-cost EVs from China, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, and several other major OEMs arriving over the next few months.
Ready to see one for yourself? With the new 2026 Toyota bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland now at dealerships, Toyota is already offering thousands off plus 0% APR financing to move inventory. You can find local deals in your area using the links below.
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