You Can’t Buy This, America: Toyota bZ7 Feels Farther Away as Trump Rolls Back CAFE

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The first installment of “You Can’t Buy This, America” focused on Chinese EVs from US brands that are not sold here. Today, we’ll focus on a family sedan from the company that sells the most popular car in the USA. The Toyota Camry has been the bestselling sedan in the US for 23 years running, and, with the exception of one year when the Accord edged it out, has been the best seller since 1997.

In some ways, the Toyota bZ7 could be seen as a Chinese electric Camry. Built in a joint venture with GAC, the vehicle debuted at Auto Guangzhou last month — although, it had been shown previously and still isn’t officially on sale. At 5130 mm (200.4 in) long on a 3020 mm wheelbase, it is over 8 inches longer than the US Camry (4929 mm), and almost 6 inches longer than the Crown sedan (4981 mm). It is a little longer than a Tesla Model S.

Onboard, the sedan uses a range of technology features based on the Huawei HarmonyOS Smart Cockpit, a technology platform that we also can’t buy in the US. Xiaomi provides its Human x Car x Home smart ecosystem that connects personal devices and smart home products. The bZ7 also comes with LiDAR-equipped ADAS from intelligent driving partner Momenta.

The interior is a noticeable step up from the Camry. Technology is prevalent, with HUD in addition to the expected screens and features. Front passenger seats get an extending footrest, while rear seats recline. Heated and ventilated seats are in both rows. Speakers are prolific. Materials feel premium and feature woodgrain accents. All are as you would expect in a Chinese car in this class.

Huawei DriveOne powers the vehicle, sending up to 207 kW (278 hp) to the rear wheels. This power electronics and motor package is shared with other automakers and undoubtedly shortened development time. Huawei’s system could also help US automakers accelerate development of EVs, if we were allowed to use it. 0–100 km/h of around 7 seconds is not particularly impressive for EVs in China, but it is in line with the fastest version of the 2025 Camry.

The car offers up to 88 kWh of battery capacity for 680–710 km of CLTC range, depending on configuration. A smaller 71 kWh pack offers 600 km of range. Both batteries use LFP cells from CALB.

While official prices have not yet been announced, the bZ7 is expected to be priced around 200,000 RMB (~$28,000). This would put it in the same price range as an ICE Camry in China (171,800–259,800 RMB), but the bZ7 is a clearly superior car (in addition to being an EV). It is also superior to the US sedan that tops our sales charts, but at a lower price.

CAFE Rollback Means More EVs That We Can’t Buy Now, Especially from Toyota

Yesterday, the Trump White House announced a large-scale rollback of CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) and tailpipe emissions standards. This weakening comes after Trump already eliminated penalties for non-compliance. Many US auto industry executives and industry groups stood behind him for support. Several of those companies were also in attendance when Biden handed out EV subsidies a few years ago. Toyota executives were not there, even though they did “kiss the ring” in October to elicit a “Go out and buy a Toyota” statement from Trump. However, Trump’s latest policy changes will have a major impact on Toyota’s US lineup.

Unlike much of Detroit, Toyota was able to meet the previously increasing CAFE standards through non-plug hybridization of its vehicles. Some of the company’s slow adoption of EVs could be attributed to Toyota not needing them to hit efficiency regulations, outside of a few models to comply with California ZEV mandates, which Trump also did away with. In addition, Toyota had a larger portion of their sales come from sedans and cars, which did not get as favorable treatment in CAFE. As Trump is doing away with the footprint adjustment and separate treatment for cars and trucks (maybe the only silver lining to the changes), Toyota will be massively ahead of the standard. Not only does this make it less likely that the company will introduce new EVs in our market, but also that they will not put much effort into bringing global EVs here. Toyota might even reverse some of its hybridization.

Overall, I expect multiple announcements to be forthcoming for cancelled/postponed US EV plans, as well as announcements for expanded ICE production. I also expect multiple global EVs will not make it to our market, even from countries without the prohibitive trade barriers we put up against China.

However, you can see a little hope for the US in the bZ7. It is not just a Toyota, but a collaboration of multiple partners to put together a technologically advanced EV. Many of those partners are leaders in their fields and are not looking for exclusive partnerships. The bZ7 might not be the most advanced or compelling EV in China, but it is ahead of most of the cars that we have available here, particularly from Toyota. And the collaboration in the bZ7 could be replicated in other models.

Technology is accelerating globally, even if we are blocked from much of it here now. Supply chains are being developed. Costs are being engineered out. Partnerships are available if we are open to them. If the US gets back on the right track, those partnerships could bring electrification back to our market. It will be almost impossible at this point to try to catch up on our own. We are too far behind now and falling further back. Global partners could provide the advanced technology below locally assembled sheet metal. With enough market scale, highly automated production of the bulky components will naturally localize. If we can return to seeking progress and collaboration, American shoppers looking at their next ICE Camry might just end up buying a superior EV, like a bZ7.