- Key Points
- Toyota Motor will offer the 2026 RAV4 only as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, eliminating a traditional gas engine.
- The world’s largest automaker declined to disclose pricing for the RAV4, the top-selling SUV in the U.S.
- Mark Templin, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, said the company plans to produce more RAV4 models at its Kentucky plant, but declined to offer specific plans for any production changes to mitigate tariffs.
PLANO, Texas — The top-selling SUV in the United States will be offered as a hybrid version as part of a remodel of the RAV4 lineup, Toyota Motor
announced Tuesday night.
The global’s largest automaker said the 2026 Toyota RAV4 handiest might be offered as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, eliminating a traditional gasoline engine inside the vehicle for the first time. It will nevertheless have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, however, with hybrid technologies, inclusive of batteries and electric vehicles.
Despite a slower-than-expected adoption of all-electric powered motors, automakers have seemed to turn to hybrid models, which combine electric automobile technology with traditional internal combustion engines, to boost performance and assist them in meeting gas economy regulations.
Toyota, which commenced introducing hybrids with the Toyota Prius in the late 1990s, has been a worldwide leader and advocate for hybrid adoption, despite an enterprise push in recent years for automakers to exclusively offer all-electric powered vehicles.
Toyota’s electrified car income within the U.S., together with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric automobiles, accounted for 43.1% of the company’s 2.3 million units sold regionally in 2024.
RAV4 income improved 9. Three last year to almost 475, two hundred units offered, consisting of a 29.Three% increase in RAV4 hybrids and a 19.3% gain in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Roughly half of the RAV4 income closing year has been from hybrids.
Sales of all-electric automobiles and hybrid models reached a record 20% of new vehicle and truck sales in the U.S. Remaining years, to three years.2 million electrified motors, in keeping with the auto facts organization Motor Intelligence. That encompasses 1.9 million hybrid vehicles, including plug-in models, and 1.3 million all-electric vehicles.
Hybrid-only
David Christ, head of the Toyota logo in North America, said the company decided to exclusively offer the RAV4 as a hybrid due to its already established recognition and growing customer demand.
“The hybrid is faster turning; it has greater sales orders on it, and the clients and sellers are asking for it,” he advised Expressepaper Tuesday, all through an event on the automaker’s North American headquarters. “It became pretty clear that the client is voting for the hybrid.”
Christ said the automaker expects to continue developing its hybrid services, which include additional plug-in hybrid electric-powered automobile offerings.
Seven of Toyota’s modern-day vehicles are exclusively hybrid models, consisting of the Camry and Prius cars, the Sienna minivan, and the Sequoia SUV. RAV4 might be the 8th.
RAV4 hybrids accounted for 44% of income remaining 12 months, Toyota reported, at the same time as plug-in fashions, which provide all-electric degrees with a traditional engine that needs to be plugged in, were 6.Five%.
The redesigned RAV4 is about to go on sale at U.S. Toyota dealerships later this year. The all-hybrid RAV4 lineup is a part of a subsequent technology redecorate of the vehicle that includes interior and outdoors layout adjustments, as well as upgrades to the car’s performance and technologies.
The employer declined to reveal pricing until near the automobile’s launch. The modern-day RAV4 starts at $30,645. The hybrid version starts at about $33, Pricing consists of mandatory shipping expenses.
The RAV4 has step-by-step accelerated income given that its U.S. Creation for the 1996 version was 12 months. Last year’s income of the car accelerated nine 3% 12 months-over-12 months to a brand new record, making it the exceptional-promoting non-pickup nameplate within the U.S. Last 12 months.
Tariffs
The RAV4 faces new demanding situations this 12 months with President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariffs of 25% on automobiles imported into the U.S., in addition to many vehicle parts.
Toyota produces the RAV4 at a plant in Kentucky, however, a majority of its U.S. Income comes from motors constructed at a plant in Ontario, Canada. It currently completely imports plug-in hybrid models for U.S. Purchasers from Japan.
Roughly 1/2 of Toyota’s U.S. Sales are imported from outdoor of the U.S., together with 84.Three of the RAV4 models, in addition to its popular Tacoma midsize pickup truck, from Mexico.
Mark Templin, the leader operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, stated the corporation plans to supply more RAV4 models at its Kentucky plant; however declined to offer specific plans for capability modifications in manufacturing to mitigate tariffs.
“It’ll work its manner out. I think we’ll construct more RAV4s in Kentucky, so one can help. But that’s any such massive vehicle. … It changed into the No. 1 promoting car within the entire marketplace, even beating out the F-a hundred and fifty,” he informed Expressepaper. “Now we’re bringing out one that’s even better than that vehicle. So, I think that we’re going to need multiple vegetation to construct that.”
Cox Automotive reviews the RAV4 completed third in sales remaining year at the back of the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado truck models, which encompass numerous versions. However, different 0.33-party information companies have stated the RAV4 crowned sales of the Detroit pickups remaining year while breaking out the fashions, together with the Ford F-150 from the larger organization.
Toyota’s days’ deliver — an adjusted quantity primarily based on the price of sales — has been among the lowest within the automobile industry, mainly for the RAV4.
Cox Automotive reviews Toyota’s recent days’ deliver is at 29 days, and the RAV4 is one of the fastest-selling automobiles within the car industry. The industry average is 66 days, according to Cox.
Templin said the automaker has been conducting scenario planning for different tariff and production outcomes, but the situation remains fluid amid Trump’s trade negotiations with other countries.
“The worst thing for an industry is uncertainty,” Templin said. “Consistency is the best thing we could all ask for.”