Toyota is delaying the Highlander EV, but there’s a bigger problem brewing

This is auto industry news rather than home energy news, so it does not touch on rebates or upgrades for your house. Here is the plain summary.

Toyota has pushed back the launch of its electric Highlander SUV, which was originally due to start production this month at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant, with dealer deliveries by the end of 2026. The company now says production won't start until at least early 2027, and the vehicle will arrive as a 2028 model instead. Toyota hasn't explained the delay beyond saying it needs to make unspecified "adjustments" before launch.

The bigger issue is a possible supply gap. Toyota plans to keep building the current gas and hybrid Highlander only through December, and dealers already had just a 20-day supply as of mid-September. That means buyers could find few or no Highlanders on lots for months before the electric version shows up. A related model, the Subaru Getaway, built on the same platform in the same plant, faces the same delay.

When the electric Highlander does arrive, it will come in XLE and Limited trims, with front- or all-wheel drive and a choice of two battery sizes offering up to 287 or 320 miles of range depending on configuration. It seats up to seven and includes a new infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will be Toyota's fourth EV in the US, joining the bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland, but the delay gives competitors like Hyundai's IONIQ 9 and Kia's EV9 more time to attract three-row SUV shoppers first.