Japanese automaker Toyota is benchmarking the all-electric Tesla Cybertruck, GMC Hummer EV, and Ford F-150 Lightning, probably as a part of a growth program that would lead to a Toyota-branded EV pickup, in line with Motrolix, which quotes sources throughout the automaker’s growth staff.
The three American-made electrical vehicles are being put by their paces at two Toyota campuses in the USA, Motrolix writes, with numerous departments taking turns evaluating the battery-powered pickups.
Get Totally Charged
Toyota is testing the electrical pickup waters
Toyota, which has been underneath fireplace for its feet-dragging method to embracing an all-electric lineup, is reportedly benchmarking three full-size electrical pickups at a few of its U.S.-based campuses. The Japanese automaker is at present promoting simply two EVs right here, the bZ4x and Lexus RZ crossovers, however its future plans embrace many extra battery-powered automobiles.
There’s been discuss of a Toyota-made electrical work truck for about half a decade, however the Nippon automaker hasn’t but pulled the set off. A Tundra-like mid-size EV idea was proven on the finish of 2021, adopted by the Hilux Revo BEV idea a 12 months later.
The top of 2023 noticed the reveal of one more electrical truck idea within the form of the moderately fashionable EPU compact pickup, which was revealed on the Japan Mobility Present and appeared to be essentially the most production-ready out of all of the Toyota ideas.
The EPU could be very a lot a compact pickup by American requirements, whereas the Cybertruck, Hummer EV, and F-150 Lightning are a lot bigger, being nearer in measurement to Toyota’s Tundra than to Ford’s Maverick.
Coincidence or not, the Rivian R1T–which is taken into account a mid-size pickup–is lacking from the record of electrical vehicles benchmarked by Toyota, which in our eyes means the Japanese auto big has its crosshair set on the large truck phase.
![IMG_5847](https://cdn.motor1.com/images/static/16x9-tr.png)
27 Photographs
That mentioned, there’s no official phrase from Toyota on this, so it’s greatest taken with a grain of salt. The Nippon maker is investing closely in its subsequent technology of EVs which can embrace an American-made three-row SUV in-built Kentucky. As for the extra commercially oriented automobiles, Toyota just lately mentioned it’ll give the shoppers what they need, a minimum of till regulation decides in any other case. This contains diesel-powered vehicles in locations like Australia and Europe, and not one of the publicly identified plans talked about previously had any reference to an electrical pickup meant for the U.S. market.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply that plans are set in stone and might’t change if there’s a possibility to earn cash.
However what do you suppose? Would you take into account an all-electric Toyota pickup if it made its manner stateside? Tell us within the feedback.