Toyota shocked the industry earlier this year when it launched the new 2027 Highlander as an electric SUV, with no gas model in sight. It was a huge step from a company that had pushed back hard against EVs, even launching its early model under a different brand. But don't expect it to continue that trend with its best-selling model... and the best-selling vehicle in the world. It isn't planning an electric RAV4, at least not yet. Head Of RAV4 Says 'Not Considering' An EV Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet Yoshinori Futonagane is the chief engineer for the Toyota RAV4. It's a big responsibility, being in charge of the model that sold more than one million units last year, taking the top global sales spot back from the Tesla Model Y. For now, that responsibility will not include developing an electric version of the RAV4, which offers gas, hybrid, and PHEV models in its latest generation. "Look, lots of things are possible, but at this point in time we’re not considering a BEV RAV4," Futonagane told CarsalesAustralia via interpreter.His reasoning follows the company line, but is confusing from a US lens. He said, "We have developed the bZ4X as a vehicle specifically to allow the EV technology to develop and be showcased and meet the needs of people who want to see what is possible there."The bZ4X, which has been renamed the bZ in the US, was Toyota's first mass-market EV. It recently received significant range increases as part of the update that changed the name in the US. It has since been joined by other bZ models, including the bZ5 and bZ3X both sold in China, but Toyota has also already deviated from the bZ – which stands for Beyond Zero (emissions) – names. RAV4, bZ Programs Will Remain Separate Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet Toyota's new C-HR and the Highlander EVs don't use the bZ branding, in the US or elsewhere. Is Toyota shifting its EV mindset? Futonagane said, "That’s notwithstanding the fact that I think the [EV] technology is moving so fast that we are in a period of transition. But currently that’s our position, that they’re separate programs."For now, then, the RAV4 will remain electrified and not fully electric. Toyota will have vehicles to meet the needs of EV buyers, but, at least for now, they will not wear the RAV4 name.There have already been two different RAV4 EVs, because in the past, Toyota has been less precious about the RAV4 name. The first one arrived in 1997, just three years into the life of the original RAV4. Just under 1,500 copies of that RAV4 were built. It used a 27 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack that gave it a 120-mile range. All were leased or sold in California.The second RAV4 EV arrived in 2012, and was part of a deal with Tesla when that company took over Toyota's joint venture plant in California. It used a 41.8 kWh pack that delivered 103 miles of range and had a battery and motors similar to what Tesla used in the Model S. Toyota built around 2,500 of these over three years.