While Toyota has showcased several EV concepts in recent years, the automaker is taking a significant step to address the growing demand for electric pickups. Toyota plans to launch a trial with an all-electric pickup truck in Thailand, a market where pickup trucks account for nearly half of total vehicle sales.
Pras Ganesh, executive vice president of Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing, revealed that engineers are working on adapting Toyota’s electric pickups to suit local conditions in Thailand. The trial will involve deploying a small batch of battery-electric pickups as taxis in the city of Pattaya in early 2024.
Initially, Toyota will focus on public transit for the electric pickup trial. The company is also considering testing these EV pickups for various applications, including last-mile delivery services. To support these efforts, Toyota is bolstering its electric vehicle research and development capacity in Thailand, which is one of the automaker’s five global R&D centers.
While the specific electric pickup model for the trial in Thailand wasn’t disclosed, there are a couple of possibilities. One option is the Hilux Revo BEV Concept, introduced in Thailand late last year. Although Toyota hasn’t announced the commercial launch date for this model, it’s a potential candidate for the trial. Another contender could be the IMV 0 concept, also showcased at the same event and at the Japan Mobility Show. While initially described as an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, it could potentially be adapted to an all-electric configuration.
Toyota’s move to introduce electric pickups in Thailand is aimed at countering increasing competition from Chinese automakers in the Southeast Asian market. While the bZ4X, Toyota’s electric SUV, launched in Thailand last year, has faced stiff competition from BYD and Great Wall Motor in the market.
The automaker is also exploring the potential of introducing electric pickups in other markets, including Australia. Recently, Toyota sent a Hilux Revo to Australia for testing and to gather input from large-volume Hilux customers, indicating a potential interest in the Australian market.
As for the United States, the likelihood of the Hilux Revo making its way stateside is minimal since the ICE-based Hilux isn’t sold in North America. However, Toyota showcased the production-ready EPU Concept at the Japan Mobility Show, and a production model based on this concept could potentially compete with pickups like the Ford Maverick. The overwhelmingly positive response to the EPU Concept suggests that Toyota should consider making it a reality based on customer demand.
Toyota’s trial of an all-electric pickup in Thailand signifies the automaker’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of consumers in the Southeast Asian market and potentially expanding its electric pickup offerings to other regions.
