Toyota's All-Electric Highlander Production Delayed to Early 2027 in the US

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Toyota's all-new all-electric Highlander large SUV has faced a significant production delay. Originally slated for a North American launch by the end of this year, a "minimum eight-week" setback in production ramp-up means the next-generation EV may not reach local showrooms until early 2027.

According to US automotive market website Cars.com, a spokesperson for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) stated that the company is "making additional adjustments to the vehicle before its launch." The top-spec all-wheel-drive 2027 Highlander features dual motors delivering 252 kW and 438 Nm of torque, with battery options of 77 kWh (462 km range) and 96 kWh (515 km range).

Toyota uses the Highlander name in the US and some export markets, while the Kluger badge is established in Japan and Australia. Australia's Kluger comes from Toyota's Princeton, Indiana plant. As the revised launch date for the new Highlander remains unconfirmed, TMNA also indicated that current 2026 model year production will continue through the end of this year.

Cars.com speculates that part of Toyota's motivation for delaying the new model is "to extract additional profits from the popular, high-priced Highlander hybrid models, keeping this cash cow running while RAV4 production slowly ramps up."

The extended production of the current model is expected to be welcomed by Toyota Australia, its dealers, and Kluger buyers. Local first-half sales were down 46.3% compared to the same period in 2025, but additional supply could provide a boost. The next-generation Highlander EV is currently not in Australia's launch plans. A Toyota Australia spokesperson previously told CarsGuide that there are no current plans to add a Kluger variant to the Australian market. However, Cars.com also noted that similar statements have been made before without materializing, so it does not rule out the possibility of competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9, and Volvo EX90 facing a rival in the Australian market.

This delay is also expected to disrupt the launch plans for the Lexus TZ—the luxury version of the Highlander—and the Subaru Getaway—based on the upcoming platform and architecture—both originally slated for a 2026 debut.

After a long-standing strategy dominated by hybrids, Toyota is gradually shifting towards electric vehicles. It has locally launched the bZ4X, and more recently the bZ4X Touring and Electric HiLux, with the C-HR+ EV locked in for 2027. The plug-in hybrid RAV4, just launched in Australia, shares the same TNGA-K platform as the 2027 Highlander, which also opens the door for future all-electric versions.