Unlike other automobile manufacturers, Toyota has not rushed to jump on the electric vehicle bandwagon, instead opting for a more cautious strategy. Despite the booming electric vehicle market, Toyota has chosen to prioritize hybrid models. Chairman Akio Toyoda believes that electric vehicles will never exceed a market share of 30%. Therefore, the future of zero emissions remains largely uncertain. However, Toyota has recently been gradually expanding its lineup of non-combustion engine models, confirming that an electric pickup will be launched in 2025.
After unveiling the prototype in late 2022, Toyota announced that the electric Hilux Revo BEV will start production by the end of next year. This significant announcement came from an executive during an interview with Reuters this week. The entire vehicle will be assembled in Thailand, where the truck accounts for over 50% of total sales.
The new Hilux will compete with the electric Isuzu D-Max, which will also be assembled in Thailand. Toyota indicates that while its upcoming electric truck is primarily aimed at the Thai market, it is also considering export markets.
While technical specifications were not disclosed during the interview, Toyota previously stated that the range is around 200 km without specifying the testing cycle. This range is not considered ideal for a truck of this size, as it typically carries heavy loads. Experts hope that Toyota's engineers will find a good balance between avoiding the use of an oversized battery that would hinder vehicle operation and not resorting to an undersized battery that would limit range.
