Toyota's Upcoming EVs Could Be Named BZ, for Beyond Zero

• Toyota has filed trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the name Toyota BZ, as well as the names for six upcoming electric vehicles. "BZ" stands for Beyond Zero.

• The names are BZ1, BZ2, BZ2X, BZ3, BZ4, BZ4X, and BZ5. We expect "X" to stand for dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models.

• The new EVs will ride on the Toyota and Subaru co-developed e-TNGA platform.

Toyota promised six new electric vehicles in 2019, and now we know that they could use the name BZ. These upcoming EVs will ride on the new e-TNGA platform co-developed by Toyota and Subaru, which supports an electric motor in front or one in the rear, or on both axles for all-wheel drive. The name is meant to stand for Beyond Zero—Toyota's initiative to promote zero-emissions technology from EVs to hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles such as the Toyota Mirai.

Toyota filed trademarks for Toyota BZ as well as BZ1, BZ2, BZ2X, BZ3, BZ4, BZ4X, and BZ5. The "X" suggests a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive model, and we could see more in the future. This naming system is similar to the one used for Kia's upcoming electric vehicles, which will start with "EV" and be followed by a number. The Kia EV6 will be the first to arrive.