Toyota Motor is testing its new battery-electric Hilux pickup truck in preparation for production in Thailand by the end of 2025.
This move is part of Toyota’s strategy to maintain its strong market position in Thailand, where pickup trucks constitute over 50% of vehicle sales. The company aims to address the rising competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
According to a Reuters report, Pras Ganesh, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Asia, said the Hilux BEV is being tested in various conditions to ensure it meets customer needs.
He highlighted the challenges in balancing battery capacity and vehicle weight while maintaining performance.
Toyota’s plan to produce the Hilux BEV follows Isuzu Motors’ announcement to produce its electric D-Max pickup truck in Thailand by 2025. Both vehicles will initially target the Thai domestic market, with potential for export.
Despite lagging behind EV leaders like Tesla and China’s BYD, Toyota has capitalised on the growing demand for hybrid vehicles.
In 2023, hybrid sales in Thailand accounted for 11.5% or around 30,000 units of Toyota’s total vehicle sales in the country. The company expects this trend to continue in Thailand and other Southeast Asian markets.
Toyota’s extensive testing of the Hilux BEV includes assessing its performance in varying road and temperature conditions to ensure it meets customer usage needs.
