Tesla has long been the best-selling electric vehicle brand in the United States, with no other carmakers even coming close, really. However, Toyota has found itself unexpectedly its biggest competitor in 2026.
According to Automotive News, Toyota reported 10,029 of its bZ crossover vehicles sold from January to March 2026. This is a 79% gain compared to the same time in 2025. Now, the car market is watching Toyota much more closely than they thought it would, and it’s predicted that the bZ could become the top-selling non-Tesla EV in the United States if it keeps selling as is.
The Toyota bZ meets Americans where they’re at
Toyota’s rapid climb in the EV race is due to a few factors — largely the competition. Or lack thereof. A lot of carmakers announced declines in EV sales, including Ford, which sold just 4,600 Mustang Mach-Es (a 60% decline), and even the Chevrolet Equinox EV, last year’s top-seller behind Tesla, which sold only 9,589. Tesla’s numbers are in a whole different ballpark, but the numbers don’t lie: the desire for EVs has slowed down in America.
Many automakers have been taking notice and pivoting from their electric-first plans. Honda dropped its upcoming Series 0 models and even Tesla has trimmed its lineup to focus more on its horrible Cybercab service and robots. However, the biggest losers have been luxury brands. Nobody wants luxury EVs anymore — not when Americans are struggling to even buy eggs.
Automakers have been misled the last few years, making electric vehicles more expensive and massive than ever. Americans want cheap cars. I think this has been a huge factor in Toyota’s rise in the EV market. The Toyota bZ is pretty affordable compared to its competitors. And going into this year, Toyota reduced it to $36,350, about $2,000 off. These above-average discounts have been big for the brand. A Toyota spokesperson told Auto News that the carmaker adjusts its pricing structure for each model “based on market conditions, vehicle content, and the competitive landscape.”
It’s working.
While we aren’t getting the $18,000 bz5 — that’s currently reserved for Chinese customers — we have the bZ, the bZ Woodland, the C-HR, and soon the Highlander. These are all pretty affordable models that make EVs more approachable. And those looking to try out an EV have expressed interest in Toyota. It’s already a highly trusted brand known for its reliability and durability. And for making it to 300,000 miles with just a few oil changes. America trusts Toyota. According to the January 2026 Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report, U.S. consumers had the most positive views of EVs from Toyota and Honda. Tesla was at the bottom.
Welp, y’all wanted a cheap electric Toyota. And now there’s one out there. Let’s see if America puts its money where its mouth is.
