Toyota’s first seven-seat electric SUV faces production delays, possibly until 2027

Toyota’s first fully electric three-row SUV, the Highlander EV, may not enter mass production until 2027. The vehicle had been scheduled to begin production this autumn at the company’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Toyota announced in July that production would be delayed by at least eight weeks for “final adjustments.” The latest report says the schedule could slip by several more months, with January 2027 now the earliest possible start. That could also push back the vehicle’s market launch.

Nikkei Asia, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Toyota had notified suppliers of the revised production timetable. Toyota North America said the delay would allow final inspections and quality checks before full-scale manufacturing begins.

Toyota said the change was unrelated to demand in the U.S. electric-vehicle market. While overall U.S. EV sales fell about 21% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, Toyota’s battery-electric deliveries more than tripled from the same period a year earlier.

During the delay, Toyota plans to extend production of the current Highlander Hybrid, which had originally been scheduled to continue through December 2026. It remains unclear whether the adjustment will affect related models, including the Lexus TZ and Subaru Getaway.

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