During the Land Cruiser 250 Prado's debut, Toyota teased no fewer than two new sport utility vehicles. One of them was eventually revealed in October 2023 at the Japan Mobility Show in the form of the Land Cruiser Se three-row electric SUV concept.
Toyota has recently confirmed that it's going to make a three-row electric sport utility vehicle in Kentucky, which is utmost interesting. Could the Land Cruiser Se morph into a series-production vehicle? Only time will tell whether Toyota is prepared to expand the Land Cruiser's range with an electric SUV, but given how many billions of yen the Japanese automaker is currently investing in EV and battery R&D, you can all guess the outcome.
Toyota has pledged $1.3 billion for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, its flagship manufacturing complex in the United States of America. Founded in January 1986, this facility is the home of the Lexus ES 350, ES 300h, RAV4 Hybrid, and Camry, which has been exclusively hybrid since November 2023 for the 2025 model year.
Located in Georgetown, the manufacturing plant currently employs 9,400 souls according to the attached release, 9,700 according to TMMK's website, or 9,950 according to Toyota's US media website. Let's say more than 9,000 employees, and that will be that. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is capable of churning out 550,000 vehicles per year, plus 600,000 or so engines.
Regarding the upcoming electric sport utility vehicle with seating for at least seven, the Japanese automaker isn't willing to share any details about it. Fortunately, we do have a few numbers from the Japan Mobility Show. First and foremost, the Land Cruiser Se can hold up to seven occupants.
Photo: Toyota
Gifted with an overall length of 5,150 millimeters (202.8 inches) and a wheelbase of 3,050 millimeters (120.0 inches), the Land Cruiser Se is roomier than the 250-series Land Cruiser Prado that's marketed as the Land Cruiser in the United States of America. The off-road SUV with turbo four-cylinder hybrid muscle offers 193.7 inches (4,920 millimeters) and 112.2 inches (2,850 millimeters), respectively.
Marginally longer than the Grand Highlander, the Land Cruiser Se concept would be a true Land Cruiser without four-wheel drive. We can easily imagine a dual-motor setup for the production model, although it's extremely important to highlight that Toyota never confirmed the Land Cruiser Se for production. The newcomer could be something completely different, as in more akin to the extremely disappointing bZ4X compact crossover.
Other than Toyota, fellow Japanese automaker Subaru has also been slow in the transition to electric vehicles. The only battery-electric vehicle offered by Subaru nowadays is the Solterra, which is nothing more than a rebadged bZ4X.
Given time, however, Subaru will have a handful of new EVs in the United States market. Big kahuna Atsushi Osaki made it clear that four new electric vehicles are in the offing before the end of 2026, including a family-sized SUV with three rows of seats. Otherwise put, Subaru's three-row electric sport utility vehicle will also be made at TMMK.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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