The fully electric Toyota Hilux is set to enter production, with a global market launch anticipated next year.
Unlike other automakers, Toyota has not rushed into producing a large number of all-electric cars, instead focusing on hybrids. Chairman Akio Toyoda believes that fully electric vehicles will never exceed a 30% market share, making the future of zero emissions uncertain.
However, Toyota has been gradually expanding its no-ICE lineup, with an electric pickup confirmed for 2025. After revealing the initial Hilux Revo BEV test model in late 2022, the company announced that the Electric Toyota Hilux would enter production near the end of next year. This was confirmed by a company executive in an interview with Reuters.
The Electric Toyota Hilux will be assembled in Thailand, where trucks account for more than 50% of total sales. It will compete with the Isuzu D-Max electric car, also assembled in Thailand. Toyota indicates that the electric Hilux will be sold primarily in Thailand but is considering export markets.
Technical specifications were not revealed, but Toyota previously mentioned that the truck would have a range of about 124 miles (200 km). The test vehicle featured a floor-mounted battery, a single-cab design, a 4×2 drive setup, and a long storage bed, based on the model sold in Thailand.
Pras Ganesh, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Asia, told Reuters that weight is a concern: “The more range I have to put in, the more battery I have to put in, which means the weight of the car also becomes significantly heavier, which means the load can be much lower.”
A range of 124 miles is less than ideal for a truck that typically carries heavy loads. It is hoped that Toyota engineers will find a balance between avoiding a huge battery that hinders practicality and a small battery that limits range.
Toyota has decided to provide a fully electric version of the current generation Hilux, suggesting that this model will continue for a few more years.
