For these ready on an all-electric Toyota Hilux pickup, you could have to attend slightly longer. Toyota Europe’s gentle industrial automobile gross sales head, Emmanuel Beaune, steered {that a} 100% electrical Hilux pickup was nonetheless just below investigation.
Is Toyota lastly launching an electrical Hilux pickup?
Though the Toyota Hilux is likely one of the top-selling pickups globally, a completely electrical model could also be additional out than anticipated.
Toyota builds the Hilux in 6 nations, with gross sales spanning over 180 nations and areas globally.
Toyota unveiled the brand new Hilux Hybrid 48V, the primary “electrified” model of the pickup, earlier this month. Nonetheless, the small hybrid system is linked to a 2.8 L diesel engine. The enhancements are minor, with as much as 5% higher gasoline effectivity.
There was additionally the hydrogen gasoline cell electrical Hilux prototype, which was revealed in September. With Tesla launching its Cybertruck, many marvel when (or if) Toyota will launch an actual electrical pickup of its personal.
Beaune advised Prime Gear, “It’s actually a part of our multi pathway strategy, to have totally different powertrains and options.” Regardless of many governments transferring towards all-electric autos, Toyota has insisted on a hybrid technique, together with gas-powered HEVs, PHEVs, and EVs.
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As for an electrical Hilux, Beaune mentioned It’s too early to remark,” including, “There are some investigations.”
Toyota did exhibit its Hilux Revo BEV idea in Thailand final December, however that was a yr in the past. The EV pickup was noticed testing in Australia as a part of improvement in October, however Toyota has but to disclose any new particulars.
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Regardless of Toyota’s hesitation, Beaune mentioned the corporate accounts for 30% of the pickup market in Europe. He defined, “We are able to see that for some employees they are going to be enthusiastic about a BEV,” including, “That’s the explanation why we’re finding out with TMC (Toyota Motor Company) in Japan with a purpose to suggest the best resolution.”
Electrek’s Take
With solely “some investigations” into an electrical pickup at this level, Toyota is already falling behind.
A number of Chinese language EV makers, together with BYD and Geely’s Radar, have launched electrical vans. Even Japanese rival Isuzu confirmed it’s launching an all-electric pickup in Thailand. BYD is already stealing market share in Thailand, which Toyota has lengthy dominated.
After getting into the market in July 2022, BYD already accounts for over a 3rd of EV gross sales and round 4% of recent automobile gross sales. BYD has already topped a number of Japanese automakers, together with Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Suzuki, in complete automobile gross sales.
By sticking to its hybrid strategy, Toyota is setting itself up for failure. BYD can develop a brand new EV from scratch to complete in 18 months. The automaker is already planning a brand new EV pickup that’s anticipated to launch shortly.
If Toyota desires to maintain up, it might want to act with urgency. An electrical pickup ought to already be part of the automaker’s plans, not just below investigation.
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