Toyota has made a very strong start with its new bZ7 in China. The large electric sedan, developed through the GAC-Toyota joint venture, managed to secure 3,100 confirmed orders within its first hour on sale, giving the company an early sign that this new EV is already attracting serious attention.
According to Peng Baolin, GAC-Toyota’s vice president of sales, demand came in almost immediately after the official launch. The bZ7 is offered in five different trims, with subsidized prices ranging from 147,800 to 199,800 yuan, making it a very interesting package considering the technology and features on offer. Buyers can choose between versions with 600 km, 700 km, or 710 km of range under the CLTC standard, and the car is already available for immediate delivery after opening for pre-orders earlier this month.
From a design perspective, the bZ7 has clearly been created to look modern and upscale. The front end features a slim full-width LED light bar, C-shaped daytime running lights, sharp headlamps, and a wide lower opening that gives the sedan a clean but confident face. Its silhouette leans toward a coupe-style shape, especially from the C-pillar to the rear, while the nearly hidden door handles help keep the body sleek. At the back, the connected taillight design mirrors the front and gives the car a more premium feel. In size, this is a big sedan, stretching 5.13 meters long with a 3.02-meter wheelbase, and it comes standard with 20-inch wheels.
Inside, Toyota is clearly aiming to give the bZ7 a more luxurious and tech-focused character. Both the front and rear seats come with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, while the front seats use a so-called zero-gravity design to improve comfort on longer drives. Toyota has also given them more precise electric adjustment to better support both seating position and leg comfort.
Technology is a major part of the car’s appeal. The bZ7 features a smart cockpit powered by Huawei’s HarmonyOS 5.0, while also supporting Apple CarPlay. Its voice assistant is based on Huawei’s MoLA system and can recognize commands from four different zones inside the cabin, handle continuous conversations, and respond to multiple instructions at the same time. Importantly, Toyota has still kept the key physical controls in place, which should make the cabin easier to live with in daily use.
The car also goes even further with connected tech by integrating Xiaomi’s ecosystem, including support for the Mi Home app. Future accessories are also expected to include Xiaomi magnetic Bluetooth buttons. On top of that, the bZ7 comes with a Huawei StarFlash digital key, allowing owners to unlock and start the car using their phone or other smart devices.
When it comes to driver assistance, the bZ7 relies on the Momenta R6 system. Versions equipped with LiDAR feature a very comprehensive sensor setup that includes one LiDAR unit, five millimeter-wave radars, 11 high-definition cameras, and 10 ultrasonic sensors, for a total of 27 sensors. This supports functions such as highway navigation assist, urban driving assistance, and smart parking, and Toyota says these features come with no extra subscription fees.
Under the skin, the bZ7 uses Huawei’s Drive ONE electric drive system, delivering up to 207 kW, or around 278 horsepower, with claimed efficiency of 97.5%. The sedan is available with LFP battery packs in 71.35 kWh and 88.13 kWh capacities, giving it a maximum range of 710 km CLTC. It also supports 3C fast charging, which can add 300 km of range in just 10 minutes, while its 6.6-kW vehicle-to-load capability allows it to power external devices when needed.
Toyota has also paid close attention to comfort and refinement. The bZ7 comes with a suspension setup that combines dual-chamber air suspension, SDC dampers, and a road preview system that scans the surface ahead and adjusts the suspension before the car reaches bumps or uneven sections. That suggests Toyota is not only chasing range and technology here, but also a more premium driving experience.
With strong early demand, a long list of advanced features, and deep integration with Chinese tech giants, the new Toyota bZ7 looks like a serious step forward for the brand in China’s electric car market. And judging by those first-hour order numbers, it seems Toyota’s latest EV has started life on exactly the right foot.
