Toyota bZ4X EV launches in Thailand and Indonesia – Malaysia soon?

This week, the regional electric vehicles (EVs) market movement saw Japanese carmaking giant Toyota making headlines after launching its groundbreaking bZ4X EV in both Thailand and Indonesia just days apart from each other earlier this week.

The bZ4X’s arrival in both key ASEAN markets is perhaps a signal that its entry into other markers is imminent, with Malaysia being amongst them.

Both Indonesia and Thailand see Toyota offer just one single variant on sale, but with different setups entirely – dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) for Thailand, single-motor, front-wheel-drive (FWD) for Indoneisia. The latter sees its motor serve up 206 PS and 266 NM whilst the former benefits with beefier 218 PS and 337 NM outputs instead.

Both share the same 71.4 kWh lithium ion battery packs underneath, with the Indonesian-spec bZ4X (single-motor, FWD) boasting a maximum travel range of 500 KM whilst the Thai-spec model (dual-motor, AWD) sees it’s maximum range claim read at a lower 411 KM figure.

In terms of charging, the bZ4X supports both AC and DC charging inputs, the former made possible at a rate of 6.6 kWh via Type 2 port. The latter, enabled by a CCS2 port, sports a higher recharging rate of 150 kW instead.

Besides differing powertrain setups, both markets offer different after-sales support and incentives. In Thailand, the bZ4X is offered with an 8-year or 160,000 KM battery warranty, an optional 5-year or 150,000 KM extended warranty, as well as a THB 30,000 (RM3,857) discount for the wall charger.

Indonesian buyers, on the other hand, are offered the same 8-year or 160,000 KM battery warranty, but they also benefit with a free service fee program for up to 3 years or 60,000 KM. On top of that, Toyota provides Indonesian bZ4X buyers with two chargers, as well as both a mobile and wall charger, all for free.

These differences in after-sales packages also ought to explain the difference in price, though it’s worth noting that the Indonesian-spec bZ4X is the priciest of the two at IDR 1.19 billion (RM 355,036) compared to Toyota Thailand’s THB 1,836,000 (RM 236,144) figure, and that’s despite the Indonesian-spec car being of a lesser spec too (single-motor, FWD).

These differences aside, the bZ4X in both Indonesia and Thailand are generously well-equipped to say the least. Highlights in the model’s features list include LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment primed with both Apple and Android connectivity, as well as the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

By the looks of things, we are certain that UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) will push to introduce the bZ4X in Malaysia soon enough. Charging this notion up further is the fact that several DC fast-charging stations have been spotted being installed within the grounds of UMWT’s headquarters in Shah Alam.

As to when exactly UMWT will launch the Toyota bZ4X, all signs point towards sometime next year (2023). Tentative prices remain unknown at this point too, though the on-going import tax waiver on imported new EVs set by the government might favour UMWT to price it competitively. And given how the model is specced in both Indonesia and Thailand, we can expect similar levels of kit too.

Are you charged up by the notion of yet another competent, capable and rather posh EV from a reputable carmaker entering our market soon? Share your thoughts in the comments section below…