The Toyota Highlander EV could face another delay, according to a report from Nikkei Asia, but Toyota says its previously announced timeline remains unchanged. The 2027 Highlander EV is still targeting a launch early in 2027, despite the report suggesting production could begin as much as 12 months later than originally planned.
Toyota Highlander EV Reportedly Faces Second Delay
The Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander overlapped too much, while the former was not as popular, leading Toyota to turn the Highlander into an EV for the 2027 model year.
Preparing the all-new vehicle for production has proven difficult. In July, Toyota announced that it would delay the launch by at least eight weeks.
Now, Nikkei Asia, which is described as a usually reputable source of insider information, reports that the 2027 Highlander has been delayed for a second time. The report claims the vehicle could arrive between four and 12 months later than originally planned.
Under the report’s best-case scenario, Toyota’s first U.S.-built EV would begin production in January 2027.
Toyota Denies a New Highlander EV Delay
Toyota’s U.S. representatives have confirmed that the automaker has not changed the timeline announced in July. The Highlander EV remains on track for a launch early in 2027.
That would mean production is likely to begin at the end of this year rather than in January, and certainly not later than that. Toyota previously attributed the July delay to “final adjustments.”
That explanation also makes the latest Nikkei Asia report difficult to reconcile with Toyota’s stated plans. If the vehicle only requires a few tweaks, final checks and quality tests, the possibility of another delay of up to a year raises questions about the conflicting reports.
U.S. EV Demand and Subaru’s Similar Delay
The relatively slow uptake of EVs in the U.S. could provide a reason for the three-row SUV to be held back. However, that explanation does not fully fit Toyota’s recent U.S. EV sales performance.
Toyota’s EV deliveries in the U.S. tripled year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026. The mechanically similar Subaru Getaway, which will also be produced in Georgetown, Kentucky, experienced the same delay in July but has not been reported to face another delay.
What Happens Next for the Highlander EV?
For now, the conflicting information leaves the exact production timeline unclear. If Toyota has changed its plans, the company could choose not to confirm a third-party report and instead wait for an appropriate time to provide its own explanation.
At the same time, the Nikkei Asia report creates uncertainty because of the publication’s reputation for insider information. The Highlander EV could potentially have experienced another delay that is small enough for Toyota to make up the lost time, but there is no confirmation of that.
For now, Toyota’s official position is that the Highlander EV remains scheduled for an early 2027 launch, following the delay announced in July.
