Key Points
- Toyota’s US electric vehicle grew by 136.3% in the first half of 2026.
- Affordable EV pricing drives increased demand, with Toyota offering four models under $30,000.
- Toyota’s hybrids now outsell gasoline-only cars; global EV competition continues to intensify.
Toyota‘s electric vehicle business is finally growing. After years of taking a reserved approach to EVs, the Japanese automaker has more than doubled its electric vehicle sales in the United States during the first half of 2026. According to Cox Automotive, Toyota delivered 21,855 battery-electric vehicles between January 1 and June 30, 2026, representing a 136.3% increase over the same period last year.
New Models Fuel Rapid Growth
Toyota
The Toyota bZ remained the brand’s biggest success story, accounting for 17,553 sales during the first six months of the year. The recently launched bZ Woodland added another 554 deliveries, while the new Toyota C-HR EV contributed 3,748 sales. Momentum accelerated even further during the second quarter. Between April and June, Toyota sold 11,826 EVs, a remarkable 225% increase year over year. The tried-and-tested bZ alone accounted for 7,524 deliveries during the quarter, while both the bZ Woodland and surprisingly quick C-HR only arrived during Q2, making their early sales figures especially encouraging.
Buyers Are Chasing Affordable EVs
Toyota
According to Cox Automotive, the average new EV now costs $54,532, almost $5,000 more than the average price of a new vehicle. By comparison, the average used EV sells for just $37,083. That pricing gap appears to be influencing buying habits. New EV sales declined by 22% year over year during the second quarter, while used EV sales jumped 29% to a record high. In other words, buyers are increasingly gravitating toward more affordable electric vehicles. The same trend follows the gas-powered segment, where buyers are gravitating towards base models. Fortunately for Toyota, it’s well positioned to benefit from that trend, as it still offers four new models priced below $30,000.
Toyota’s Formula Is Paying Off
Toyota
Toyota’s EV growth is part of a much bigger picture. The company’s hybrid models have become so popular that they now outsell its gasoline-only vehicles in several key markets. Competition in the EV segment is becoming fiercer, though. Chinese automaker BYD sold more EVs than Tesla in global EV sales during the second quarter, highlighting just how quickly the market is changing.
Toyota may still trail the industry’s biggest EV specialists, but its latest results suggest its long-term strategy is beginning to bear fruit. With new electric models attracting buyers and hybrids continuing to perform exceptionally well, the company appears to be strengthening its electrified position for the years ahead.
About the author
Marnus Moolman
News Editor, Autoblog