Again in 2004, Toyota entered right into a three way partnership in China with the Guangzhou Car Group Co., Ltd. (GAC), the place two new entities have been created. One was GAC Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. (GTE), and the opposite was Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., later renamed GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (GTMC). Toyota’s new three way partnership with GAC was initially for the manufacturing of the GAC Toyota Camry in 2006. This was adopted by the manufacturing of the GAC Toyota Yaris in 2008. Whereas GTE produced the Camry engines, beginning with these for export fashions in 2005 and later with engines for the Chinese language market in 2006, GTMC took care of the manufacturing of those autos.
Additional tasks of GAC Toyota included the constructing of a further manufacturing line, on which might be produced the GAC Toyota Highlander in 2009 and the GAC Toyota Camry Hybrid in 2010. Since then, GAC Toyota has proven regular progress within the Chinese language market, whilst different non-Chinese language manufacturers have faltered. These different manufacturers have failed largely because of the rise of each home-grown Chinese language automobile manufacturers and the growing market share being taken by Chinese language-made new power autos of assorted varieties.
As a response to this phenomenon, Toyota has adopted an ‘if you cannot beat them, be a part of them’ method. The proof of this may be seen in its full self-driving EV, in addition to two new autos which have been revealed by GAC Toyota on the Auto Guangzhou 2025 Present in November.
The GAC Toyota is a RAV4 — with a giant distinction
The primary automobile revealed by GAC Toyota at Auto Guangzhou 2025 was the Wildlander, which can look acquainted, because it’s designated because the RAV4, the world’s best-selling automobile, in non-Chinese language markets. The massive distinction between the Wildlander and the RAV4 is that the Wildlander’s clever cockpit was developed in China, the primary time that Toyota has executed this to a gasoline-powered automobile. It makes use of a massive language mannequin with voice interplay that additionally incorporates greater than 10 features which might be accessible by way of gesture controls. The clever cockpit options what GAC Toyota calls a “class-leading 15.6-inch ultra-narrow-bezel show.”
One other main distinction between the Wildlander and the present RAV4 that is accessible within the U.S. is that the Wildlander gives a non-hybridized powertrain. This can be a 2.0-liter inline-four that’s naturally aspirated and produces 169 horsepower that may be despatched to both the entrance wheels or all 4, if you happen to specify all-wheel drive.
Two completely different typical hybrid drivetrains can be found as choices. One makes use of a 2.0-liter 4 plus electrical motors that produce 150 horsepower, with the opposite being a extra highly effective 2.5-liter 4 that works with further electrical motors producing a extra beneficiant 182 horsepower. The hybrid variations may also be had in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variations. There has not been a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model of the Wildlander introduced for the Chinese language market as of this writing. The Wildlander is an try to make internal-combustion autos extra acceptable to the Chinese language shopping for public by including tech options.
The GAC Toyota bZ7 is a glance into Toyota’s Chinese language EV future
The opposite automobile Toyota unveiled at Auto Guangzhou 2025 is far more consequential for Toyota’s future fortunes in China. That is the bZ7, Toyota’s flagship Chinese language EV with some fairly cool options. The bZ7 is a big sedan designed in China for the Chinese language car-buying public. For comparability, the bZ7 is about 5 meters lengthy, somewhat longer than a Tesla Mannequin S. Its front-end ‘hammerhead’ styling locations its seems to be proper according to its Camry and Prius siblings.
Inside, the bZ7 makes use of Huawei’s HarmonyCockpit, built-in with Xiaomi’s good ecosystem known as “Human x Automobile x House.” This superior system permits bZ7 homeowners to manage their good residence home equipment by way of both their smartphones or the bZ7’s infotainment system. The occupants are handled to an upscale inside remedy that mixes ambient lighting and tasteful wooden accents with a big heart touchscreen, supplemented by an instrument panel instantly in entrance of the motive force. Further controls reside in a small console constructed into the roof, proper between the solar visors.
One other revolutionary function on the bZ7 is its LiDAR (Gentle Detection and Ranging) roof-mounted sensor, which works with the Momenta 6.0 good driving system that’s customary tools on the highest trim ranges of the bZ7. The styling of the bZ7 is each elegant and sporty, with an aerodynamic sloping roofline that culminates in a ducktail spoiler. Vitality flows from a Calb-tech lithium iron phosphate battery, whereas energy comes from a 278-horsepower Huawei motor driving the rear wheels.
