This week, Toyota Thailand’s Noriaki Yamashita confirmed that a production version of the electric pickup truck is just around the corner, according to a report from Reuters. However, Yamashita did not clarify where the Hilux BEV would be manufactured. Yamashita did mention that before entering production, the pickup will undergo testing in the resort town of Pattaya, located in eastern Thailand. The town is expected to receive approximately a dozen electric trucks next month, which will be utilized as public transportation vehicles in the popular tourist destination.
While Toyota has been slow to adopt electric powertrains, the company is not altogether opposed to them. Case in point: the president of the automaker’s Thai division has announced plans to reveal an all-electric variant of the Hilux pickup truck by the end of 2025. The Hilux is a big—well, scratch that, a massive—massive deal in many parts of the world, and in 2022, an all-electric concept version of the truck was shown off to celebrate the automaker’s 60th anniversary in Thailand. At the time, Toyota said that the prototype had been partially developed in the country, which is a manufacturing hub for the region.
Toyota’s announcement comes just days after the Thai government announced that its competitor, Isuzu, will manufacture a battery-powered version of its pickup truck, the D-MAX, in Thailand in 2025. While Thailand remains a crucial market for the Hilux, it’s not the only significant one. Toyota presently commands about 30 percent of the European pickup segment. Emmanuel Beaune, head of its commercial vehicle division for the continent, recently disclosed that the automaker has received inquiries regarding an all-electric pickup truck.
As a result, he said that the company is studying the prospect of introducing an electric Hilux for European customers, but refused to confirm that one was coming. However, he did clarify that despite exploring electric powertrains, Toyota is committed to a “multi-pathway approach,” that offers buyers a variety of powertrains, including electric, internal combustion, hybrid, and even hydrogen power.
