First Look at Toyota's Upcoming New Electric Car, Based on an Old MPV Platform

KatadataOTO – In the global market, Toyota has one electric car model in the SUV segment, namely the bZ4X. Although much of the focus is on hybrids, it was recently discovered that they are preparing a new BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) based on the Previa.

For your information, the Toyota Previa is an MPV that was marketed globally in the 1990s and was imported by PT TAM (Toyota Astra Motor) in 2007 for a short time. The Previa was later replaced by other MPV models such as the Sienta and Alphard.

In 2017, Toyota introduced a concept car with several characteristics similar to the Toyota Previa, named the Fine-Comfort Ride. The prototype fuel-cell car had a futuristic and unique appearance compared to most modern sliding-door MPVs.

A report from an internal source to the Japanese media, Best Car Magazine, reported that in 2026, Toyota will revive the Previa MPV as an environmentally friendly vehicle using the TNGA-K platform.

Photo : Electrek

The TNGA-K itself is already used for a number of other Toyota models such as the Camry, Crown, and Rav4 PHEV. So the Toyota Previa will not only come in a BEV option but also a PHEV.

If the Toyota Previa EV arrives, the model will liven up the electric-powered MPV segment in the country. Currently, there are quite a few competitors, ranging from the BYD M6 in the Rp 300 million-Rp 400 million range to the premium segment like the Zeekr 009 at Rp 2 billion and above.

Unlike Toyota's other BEV lines that are focused on being sold in China, it seems the Previa EV will be sold in various countries globally.

In Indonesia, Toyota has also signaled the arrival of a new electric car. The candidate is not yet clearly known, as the majority of Toyota's electric cars are marketed exclusively in the Chinese market.

Photo : Electrek

For example, the bZ3X, a twin SUV to the bZ4X, targets family consumers in urban areas. The result of a joint venture with the GAC Group has a form identical to the GAC Aion V, which was already marketed in Indonesia at GJAW 2024.

At the Toyota Media Gathering event towards the end of the year, it was revealed that two new types of environmentally friendly vehicles will hit the roads in Indonesia, including hybrid and electric cars.

“Toyota's commitment to reducing carbon is still consistent with three pillars. Electrified vehicles, environmentally friendly or low-emission vehicles, and we also focus on having vehicles with flexy fuel, bioethanol, or biodiesel,” said Henry Tanoto, Vice President Director of PT TAM in South Jakarta some time ago.