Toyota's new $15,000 electric SUV takes China by storm with 10,000 orders in an hour

Despite its advantage as one of the biggest carmakers, Toyota has not set the world ablaze with its electrification program. However, the Japanese company's fortune may be turning with its $15,000 electric SUV launch in China. The bZ3X garnered 10,000 orders in just one hour, causing the system to crash.

The new budget SUV, officially known as the Bozhi 3X, was launched by a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC). Blind pre-orders started late last year.

Toyota is offering the bZ3X in two variants. The cheapest version is the 'non-smart,' which has five trims and starts at 109,800 yuan ($15,000). The 'smart' version has a base price of 149,800 yuan ($20,500).

The top 'smart' trim is equipped with a 67.92 kWh LFP battery and offers a 379-mile driving range (CLTC standard). The least expensive version promises up to 267 miles between charges and draws power from a 50.03 kWh LFP battery.

The Chinese bZ3X offers interesting tech despite its low price tag. Inside are a 14.6-inch infotainment and 8.8-inch driver displays complete with voice recognition. Other features include a two-spoke multi-function steering wheel, NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin X processor, and 25 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) functionalities.