Toyota Is Making The Highlander Electric Because The Grand Highlander Is Too Popular
It didn't take Toyota too long to realize that its word soup naming strategy for EVs was confusing, and the bZ4X is now known simply as the bZ for 2026. Thus, the upcoming three-row EV that was supposed to be called bZ5X will likely be renamed, though to what is unclear. The Highlander name is reportedly reserved for the smaller, lighter electric three-row. As with all rumors, we should point out that Toyota hasn't confirmed exactly how it plans to name and market these EVs, only saying that it "plans to produce two all-new, three-row battery electric SUVs in the U.S.," adding that it will "now assemble both vehicles at Toyota Kentucky." Production of the one bearing the Highlander name is expected to begin earlier to allow it to reach dealer floors early in 2026. That means a reveal is highly likely before the end of this year.
Related: 2026 Toyota Corolla Arrives With Updates-But Should You Buy the 2025 Instead?
The new Highlander BEV will be one of seven new electric vehicles that Toyota is expected to launch in the U.S. by mid-2027, following the abovementioned bZ, bZ Woodland, and 2026 CH-R. But Toyota isn't putting all its eggs in one basket, with all-electric cars, mild-hybrids, and PHEVs to be offered for years to come. Evidence of this is seen in reports that the current Highlander will get a facelift not dissimilar from that of the latest Camry, and the Chinese market will reportedly get a PHEV version, and the HiLux that North America misses out on will be launched with a refresh soon. But the big nugget is that Toyota is reportedly working on a unibody pickup to rival the Ford Maverick. Reportedly based on the Corolla, this will offer a new hybrid option in the segment, but we'll have to be patient; the Corolla pickup is only expected to launch in North America sometime in 2027.
Another interesting detail is that the GR Supra may continue to be built at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria beyond 2026, potentially with a new engine under the hood. Elsewhere, the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell sedan will only get minor tweaks, and Automotive News says the following vehicles will all be refreshed over the next few years:
bZCamryCorollaCorolla CrossCrownCrown SigniaGrand HighlanderGR CorollaGR86Prado (Lexus GX in the U.S.)PriusSequoiaSiennaTacomaTundra4Runner
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Qantas passengers trial major airport change, two Aussies' $4.8m lotto prizes unclaimed for years, Opposition says China testing 'weak' Albanese
Hello and welcome to Yahoo's live news blog this Thursday. There's a renewed push from lotto officials to find two unwitting Aussies who've scooped $4.8 million each on the 10-year anniversary of Set for Life's launch. One of the winners has less than two years to come forward before their prize is surrendered. Scores of Qantas passengers were the first to ditch passenger arrival cards at Sydney Airport on Wednesday as part of a trial to switch to digital declarations. It was an extension of a trial began last year at Brisbane Airport and the airline have hailed the latest step as "significant". Follow along as we bring you regular updates throughout the day. Toyota's dominance in Australia continues While it has been the top selling vehicle for the past two years, the Ford Ranger has been tipped at the top of July's sales list by rival Toyota. Both its HiLux and RAV4 models had better sales last month than the Ranger. Toyota has long been the market leader in Australia, spanning more than two decades. Last year, it sold 140,000 more vehicles than nearest manufacturer Ford. In fact it's been a difficult first half of 2025 for Ford, with Mazda jumping into second spot for overall sales. Plans for world's largest suspension bridge given green light Italy has cleared the way to build the world's largest suspension bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive A$25 billion infrastructure project that has been long delayed by debates over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental impact and the spectre of mafia interference. The Strait of Messina Bridge will be 'the biggest infrastructure project in the West,' Transport Minister Matteo Salvini told a news conference in Rome, after an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments approved the project. 🌉 I #ponti sono sempre stati acceleratori per l'economia e lo sviluppo dei paesi. E #Webuild ha dato il suo contributo a questa storia.🇮🇹 Il Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina è una grande sfida ingegneristica per una grande opportunità di sviluppo economico, industriale,… — Webuild (@Webuild_Group) August 6, 2025 Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the bridge "will be an engineering symbol of global significance.'' Salvini cited studies showing the project will create 120,000 jobs a year and accelerate growth in economically lagging southern Italy, as billions more in investments are made in roads and other infrastructure projects accompanying the bridge. Preliminary work could begin between late September and early October, once Italy's court of audit signs off, with construction expected to start next year. Despite bureaucratic delays, the bridge is expected to be completed between 2032-2033, Salvini said. Read more here. China sees Albanese as 'weak', Coalition says The Coalition says China and Russia are "testing" Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as they see him as a weak leader when it comes to defence. China and Russia are currently carrying out joint patrols in the Western Pacific, right on Australia's doorstep. Beijing's mouthpieces have framed the patrols as 'jointly countering security threats' and a testament to 'deepening of China-Russia military ties'. Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie suggests the patrols should prompt more resistance from the government. 'While concerning, this is not surprising. They are testing us because they see weakness in Prime Minister Albanese," he told NewsWire. 'The Prime Minister has set a dangerous precedent by repeatedly refusing to stand up for our Australian Defence Force. 'Australia must show strength, and we're not seeing it from Labor.' Read more here. Renewed appeal to find lotto winners as prizes go unclaimed for years The Lott is celebrating 10 years of its Set for Life game – and the lottery authority is reminding Australians there are two winners who are yet to claim their $4.8m prize. "Two Aussies remain oblivious to their good fortune, with two Set for Life division one prizes unclaimed, each worth $4.8 million. In New South Wales and the ACT, players have six years from the date of the draw to claim their prize," The Lott said on Thursday. One of the tickets was purchased at Thistle Kiosk in Canberra's Woden in April 2021 while the other was bought at Nextra Kiama in NSW's Kiama in November 2024. Set for Life differs from traditional lottery games by drip-feeding winners their prize. Winners are paid $20,000 a month for 20 years. Qantas trial makes it to Australia's busiest airport It's a trial we're sure most Aussie flyers will embrace, and it's now made it's way to the country's busiest airport. Qantas customers flying in from New Zealand's Queenstown or Auckland on Wednesday were able to complete a digital declaration through the airline's app before their flight instead of filling out an arrivals card. The trial has been running at Brisbane Airport since last year and has been warmly welcomed by the aviation industry and passengers. 'Extending the trial to Australia's busiest airport means, every day, hundreds more passengers will have a more seamless travel experience," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, The Guardian reported. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Toyota's dominance in Australia continues While it has been the top selling vehicle for the past two years, the Ford Ranger has been tipped at the top of July's sales list by rival Toyota. Both its HiLux and RAV4 models had better sales last month than the Ranger. Toyota has long been the market leader in Australia, spanning more than two decades. Last year, it sold 140,000 more vehicles than nearest manufacturer Ford. In fact it's been a difficult first half of 2025 for Ford, with Mazda jumping into second spot for overall sales. While it has been the top selling vehicle for the past two years, the Ford Ranger has been tipped at the top of July's sales list by rival Toyota. Both its HiLux and RAV4 models had better sales last month than the Ranger. Toyota has long been the market leader in Australia, spanning more than two decades. Last year, it sold 140,000 more vehicles than nearest manufacturer Ford. In fact it's been a difficult first half of 2025 for Ford, with Mazda jumping into second spot for overall sales. Plans for world's largest suspension bridge given green light Italy has cleared the way to build the world's largest suspension bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive A$25 billion infrastructure project that has been long delayed by debates over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental impact and the spectre of mafia interference. The Strait of Messina Bridge will be 'the biggest infrastructure project in the West,' Transport Minister Matteo Salvini told a news conference in Rome, after an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments approved the project. 🌉 I #ponti sono sempre stati acceleratori per l'economia e lo sviluppo dei paesi. E #Webuild ha dato il suo contributo a questa storia.🇮🇹 Il Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina è una grande sfida ingegneristica per una grande opportunità di sviluppo economico, industriale,… — Webuild (@Webuild_Group) August 6, 2025 Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the bridge "will be an engineering symbol of global significance.'' Salvini cited studies showing the project will create 120,000 jobs a year and accelerate growth in economically lagging southern Italy, as billions more in investments are made in roads and other infrastructure projects accompanying the bridge. Preliminary work could begin between late September and early October, once Italy's court of audit signs off, with construction expected to start next year. Despite bureaucratic delays, the bridge is expected to be completed between 2032-2033, Salvini said. Read more here. Italy has cleared the way to build the world's largest suspension bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive A$25 billion infrastructure project that has been long delayed by debates over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental impact and the spectre of mafia interference. The Strait of Messina Bridge will be 'the biggest infrastructure project in the West,' Transport Minister Matteo Salvini told a news conference in Rome, after an interministerial committee with oversight of strategic public investments approved the project. 🌉 I #ponti sono sempre stati acceleratori per l'economia e lo sviluppo dei paesi. E #Webuild ha dato il suo contributo a questa storia.🇮🇹 Il Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina è una grande sfida ingegneristica per una grande opportunità di sviluppo economico, industriale,… — Webuild (@Webuild_Group) August 6, 2025 Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the bridge "will be an engineering symbol of global significance.'' Salvini cited studies showing the project will create 120,000 jobs a year and accelerate growth in economically lagging southern Italy, as billions more in investments are made in roads and other infrastructure projects accompanying the bridge. Preliminary work could begin between late September and early October, once Italy's court of audit signs off, with construction expected to start next year. Despite bureaucratic delays, the bridge is expected to be completed between 2032-2033, Salvini said. Read more here. China sees Albanese as 'weak', Coalition says The Coalition says China and Russia are "testing" Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as they see him as a weak leader when it comes to defence. China and Russia are currently carrying out joint patrols in the Western Pacific, right on Australia's doorstep. Beijing's mouthpieces have framed the patrols as 'jointly countering security threats' and a testament to 'deepening of China-Russia military ties'. Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie suggests the patrols should prompt more resistance from the government. 'While concerning, this is not surprising. They are testing us because they see weakness in Prime Minister Albanese," he told NewsWire. 'The Prime Minister has set a dangerous precedent by repeatedly refusing to stand up for our Australian Defence Force. 'Australia must show strength, and we're not seeing it from Labor.' Read more here. The Coalition says China and Russia are "testing" Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as they see him as a weak leader when it comes to defence. China and Russia are currently carrying out joint patrols in the Western Pacific, right on Australia's doorstep. Beijing's mouthpieces have framed the patrols as 'jointly countering security threats' and a testament to 'deepening of China-Russia military ties'. Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie suggests the patrols should prompt more resistance from the government. 'While concerning, this is not surprising. They are testing us because they see weakness in Prime Minister Albanese," he told NewsWire. 'The Prime Minister has set a dangerous precedent by repeatedly refusing to stand up for our Australian Defence Force. 'Australia must show strength, and we're not seeing it from Labor.' Read more here. Renewed appeal to find lotto winners as prizes go unclaimed for years The Lott is celebrating 10 years of its Set for Life game – and the lottery authority is reminding Australians there are two winners who are yet to claim their $4.8m prize. "Two Aussies remain oblivious to their good fortune, with two Set for Life division one prizes unclaimed, each worth $4.8 million. In New South Wales and the ACT, players have six years from the date of the draw to claim their prize," The Lott said on Thursday. One of the tickets was purchased at Thistle Kiosk in Canberra's Woden in April 2021 while the other was bought at Nextra Kiama in NSW's Kiama in November 2024. Set for Life differs from traditional lottery games by drip-feeding winners their prize. Winners are paid $20,000 a month for 20 years. The Lott is celebrating 10 years of its Set for Life game – and the lottery authority is reminding Australians there are two winners who are yet to claim their $4.8m prize. "Two Aussies remain oblivious to their good fortune, with two Set for Life division one prizes unclaimed, each worth $4.8 million. In New South Wales and the ACT, players have six years from the date of the draw to claim their prize," The Lott said on Thursday. One of the tickets was purchased at Thistle Kiosk in Canberra's Woden in April 2021 while the other was bought at Nextra Kiama in NSW's Kiama in November 2024. Set for Life differs from traditional lottery games by drip-feeding winners their prize. Winners are paid $20,000 a month for 20 years. Qantas trial makes it to Australia's busiest airport It's a trial we're sure most Aussie flyers will embrace, and it's now made it's way to the country's busiest airport. Qantas customers flying in from New Zealand's Queenstown or Auckland on Wednesday were able to complete a digital declaration through the airline's app before their flight instead of filling out an arrivals card. The trial has been running at Brisbane Airport since last year and has been warmly welcomed by the aviation industry and passengers. 'Extending the trial to Australia's busiest airport means, every day, hundreds more passengers will have a more seamless travel experience," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, The Guardian reported. It's a trial we're sure most Aussie flyers will embrace, and it's now made it's way to the country's busiest airport. Qantas customers flying in from New Zealand's Queenstown or Auckland on Wednesday were able to complete a digital declaration through the airline's app before their flight instead of filling out an arrivals card. The trial has been running at Brisbane Airport since last year and has been warmly welcomed by the aviation industry and passengers. 'Extending the trial to Australia's busiest airport means, every day, hundreds more passengers will have a more seamless travel experience," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, The Guardian reported.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump wants more American pick-ups in Tokyo and London. That may be a hard sell
By David Dolan, Maki Shiraki and Marie Mannes TOKYO/STOCKHOLM, August 7 (Reuters) -Donald Trump is right that Japan and Europe buy few American-made cars - but it has little to do with trade barriers. From Tokyo to London, many consumers see Detroit's offerings as simply too big and too gas-guzzling. That view has made Chevrolets and Cadillacs a hard sell, and a rare sight, in cities full of slimmer cars from the Toyota Corolla to Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio. Trump often complains about what he sees as a refusal to accept U.S. cars while the Japanese and Europeans sell millions of automobiles a year into the United States. In recent trade deals, both markets agreed to drop or ease safety tests on American vehicle imports. Europe will lower levies on U.S. cars. But it may take more than a change of rules and lower tariffs to convince Japanese and European consumers, who contend with narrow roads and painfully tight parking, to buy big American-made Ford F-150 trucks and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. "American cars are designed for wide roads and freeway driving, so handling them on narrow Japanese streets can be tricky. It takes a bit of technique," said Yumihito Yasue, president of Johnan Jeep Petit in Tokyo, which imports and services vintage cars from the United States. His customers tend to be enthusiasts in their 50s and 60s who grew up seeing American cars on TV and in movies. On a recent weekday, he was servicing two Chevrolets, a lustrous brown 1971 Nova and a low-slung 1986 El Camino, both with their steering wheels on the left. In Japan, steering is on the right. Yasue inherited his love of American cars from his father, who started the business four decades ago and would travel to California to scout for cars. Yasue took over after his father died nine years ago, and sells about 20 vehicles a year. "What makes American cars special is the design. Compared to Japanese or German cars, the body shape is more beautiful. Especially the lines, like the rear lines and the fenders," he said. Some 3.7 million new cars were sold in Japan last year, with a third of those mini or "kei" cars - tiny, fuel efficient vehicles not produced by American automakers. Overall, foreign cars accounted for 6% of new car sales, data from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association showed. Of those, around 570 Chevys, 450 Cadillacs and 120 Dodges were sold, data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association showed. Ford pulled out of Japan almost a decade ago. Tesla makes cars sleeker than some of Detroit's and is becoming more popular. The data does not give a breakdown for the EV maker. 'WE DON'T BUY FORD F-150S' In Europe, smaller locally-made U.S. cars have done well: models like the best-selling Ford Puma and the older Fiesta. But over the past two decades, Ford and General Motors have pivoted towards larger pickups and SUVs, vehicles less suited to Europe's narrow streets and compact-car culture. Ford, a big player in Europe from the early 1900s, has seen sales in the region fall sharply, from 1.26 million vehicles in 2005 to just 426,000 in 2024, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Its market share dropped from 8.3% to 3.3%. "We don't buy Ford F-150s, that's not what our roads are scaled for, it's not what our customers want," Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin, told Reuters. GM exited Europe in 2017, selling Opel after pulling back Chevrolet, but returned with its Cadillac Lyriq last year. It sold a mere 1,514 of the U.S.-made SUV, according to auto data firm Jato. A GM spokesperson said Cadillac was growing its all-electric lineup in Europe, and the vehicles had been well-received in the markets where they were launched. A Ford spokesperson said the firm exported "passion products" to Europe like the Bronco and Mustang, alongside locally-made models tailored for the market. Clive Sutton, a British car dealer in London who sells luxury American models, said his buyers were drawn to the rarity of vehicles like the giant Cadillac Escalade. But he admitted it was a challenge. "There are people that want that car because of its exclusivity and its perceived status," Sutton said. "But it's not the most easy car to find a parking space for, certainly in central London." COMPETITIVE MARKET Trump has also put pressure on South Korea to open its market to American cars and said duty-free access was part of the trade deal the two countries agreed last week. There, imported vehicles account for less than one-fifth of the car market and U.S. models for only 16% of the imported car segment, which is dominated by German rivals, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association. German manufacturers have also carved out a strong presence in Japan's luxury market. Mercedes-Benz sold more than 53,000 vehicles last year, making it the most popular foreign brand, followed by BMW at more than 35,000. Japanese automakers say Europeans have been successful because they committed the time and resources to the market. Detroit carmakers, meanwhile, are often associated with left-hand drive cars, which are more challenging to drive on the left-hand side of the road. But some U.S. manufacturers are changing. GM has offered the Corvette only in right-hand drive since the eighth generation version went on sale in 2021. That may be one reason why some 80% of buyers are new customers, a GM spokesperson said. The Corvette is the only model Chevy offers in Japan, and it has sold fewer than 1,000 of them a year for the last decade. GM this year announced plans for a line-up of right-hand-drive Cadillac EVs and deliveries of the Lyriq started in July. 'WOW, A FOREIGN CAR' Jeep, which sells right-hand drive models, has been the most popular American brand for more than a decade, the importer data showed. It sold just shy of 10,000 vehicles last year in Japan. Yukimi Nitta used to drive a "kei" car but she was drawn to the Jeep Wrangler's appearance, which she described as "friendly" and "outdoorsy". The 42-year-old hair salon owner is now on her second Jeep - a limited-edition beige model - and hopes to switch again to another limited-edition colour. Parking is tight but manageable, she said, and two of her friends have since bought Wranglers. "People often say, 'Wow, a foreign car!' But once you drive it, it feels totally normal. I wish more people would try it," she said. While the Wrangler does burn through fuel quickly, the resale value is good, making it possible to switch out colours, something owners do, Nitta said. A spokesperson for Jeep owner Stellantis said it actively promoted owner events. In July, it announced a collaboration with the "Jurassic World" movie series featuring a limited-edition pink Wrangler, the spokesperson said. Big American cars and trucks might find it hard to follow in Jeep's tracks. Daniel Cadwell, an American living in Tokyo, exports used Japanese camper vans and wagons to the United States. He said he was struck by the size of American cars whenever he went home. "They are just excessively big," said Cadwell, who runs Javan Imports in Portland with his U.S.-based business partner. "I think it is highly challenging for a car of that sort to be seen as attractive in Japan." 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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warner Bros. earnings, Fed talk, jobless claims: What to Watch
Asking for a Trend host Josh Lipton takes a look at the top stories for investors to watch on Thursday, Aug. 7. In the morning, Eli Lilly (LLY), Toyota (TM), ConocoPhillips (COP), Constellation Energy (CEG), and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will report earnings. In the afternoon, Take-Two (TTWO) will report results. Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic will deliver remarks. Initial jobless claims data for the week ending Aug. 2 will be posted in the morning. Economists are expecting an uptick from the previous reporting period. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Asking for a Trend. Time now for what to watch Thursday, August 7th, starting off on the earnings front. No rest for the weary this earnings season. We'll be getting some more reports on Thursday. It's going to include Eli Lilly, Toyota and Take Two Interactive. Eli Lilly announced the results for the second quarter before the markets open. Obesity drugs will remain in focus for Eli Lilly and new drugs in the pipeline. It's coming against the backdrop of President Trump's looming tariffs on the pharma industry, and also saying the company's full year financial guidance could also be raised barring any major surprises in the quarter. And turning to the Federal Reserve, Atlanta Fed President Rafael Bostic is speaking on Thursday. This is coming after continuing commentary from President Trump around a potential successor for Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Trump saying on Tuesday that the list is down to four people, but that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessette will not be nominated for that role. And finally, we're going to be getting some fresh jobs data on Thursday with weekly initial jobless claims, economists forecasting claims to tick up to 222,000, signaling what could be more softening in the labor market.
