Toyota turns to Huawei and Xiaomi for new bZ7 electric sedan in China

Toyota watched from the sidelines for a very long time as the electric car market in China exploded with local brands. Now, the Japanese automotive giant is making a move, but not by doubling down on its own technology.

Instead, the company is embracing a new philosophy: if you want to win in China, partner with China’s best. The upcoming GAC Toyota bZ7 electric sedan is an example of this new strategy, a large car built with the help of tech powerhouses Huawei and Xiaomi.

GAC Toyota, the company’s joint venture in the region, released the first official images of the bZ7. This isn’t a small electric car designed for tight city streets. The bZ7 is a large sedan, measuring 5,130 mm long, 1,965 mm wide, and 1,500 mm tall. With a long wheelbase of 3,020 mm, the car is designed to offer a spacious and comfortable interior, a key selling point for consumers in the Chinese market.

But underneath a somewhat familiar design, the bZ7 reveals just how different Toyota‘s approach is this time. Instead of an in-house motor, the sedan will be powered by hardware supplied by Huawei.

Regulatory filings show this motor will produce a peak output of 207 kW – that’s about 278 horsepower. This is enough to get the 2,105 kg EV to a top speed of 180 km/h. Sure, these numbers won’t break any performance records, but they show a focus on providing solid, dependable power for a large family vehicle.

The biggest change is happening inside the cabin. The battle for today’s electric car buyers is often won on the dashboard screen. Recognizing this, Toyota has stepped back and let local experts take the lead. The bZ7 will feature Huawei’s HarmonySpace cockpit, an advanced infotainment and vehicle control system known for its smooth interface and connectivity.

The car will as well integrate with Xiaomi‘s smart ecosystem, allowing the bZ7 to seamlessly connect with a wide range of smart home devices and personal electronics. This feature is highly valued by tech-savvy Chinese customers.

This collaboration is a fundamental change in how Toyota operates in the world’s largest market for electric vehicles. Before, major decisions for new models were made at the company’s headquarters in Japan. That old way of thinking is now out the door.

At a recent tech event, Yoshiaki Konishi, the head of Toyota’s EV research and development in China, confirmed that decision-making power for new models is officially shifting from Japan to the local Chinese team. Toyota is…