Toyota is currently in the process of evaluating several large all-electric pickup trucks, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, the GMC Hummer EV Pickup, and the Tesla Cybertruck.
Reports from sources within Toyota’s development team suggest that these electric trucks are undergoing testing at two of the Japanese automaker’s campuses in the USA. This indicates that any new model Toyota is exploring is likely intended for the US market. Various departments within Toyota are involved in the benchmarking process.
For those unfamiliar with the process, automakers often purchase competitor products to thoroughly assess and analyze them for potential areas of improvement. Notable examples include General Motors studying the Ford Maverick and Kia evaluating its Tasman midsize pickup against the Ranger Raptor.
This benchmarking process strongly suggests that Toyota is working on developing mass-market electric trucks. While the Toyota Hilux has already been electrified, it has primarily served as a testbed. The Hilux BEV Revo, aimed at commercial use, offers customers the benefit of cost savings on diesel and appeals to industries such as mining, where emissions-free vehicles are valued.
In terms of a mass-market product, Toyota has dropped hints over the years. In late 2021, Toyota and Lexus unveiled 16 concepts, one of which was an electric truck bearing a design that would later inspire the 2024 Toyota Tacoma.
The existence of this Tacoma EV concept indicates that Toyota might be planning to introduce an all-electric version of the Tacoma, following a similar strategy to BMW’s approach with the i7 and 7 Series.
Toyota’s slow progress in electrification could be interpreted in different ways. While some view it as being behind, others see it as a conservative approach. This sentiment was echoed by Mike Sweers, Toyota’s executive chief engineer for several models, including the Tundra and Tacoma. Sweers stated that Toyota would not produce an electric Tundra until there was a significant improvement in EV infrastructure.
Since Sweers’ comments, there have been notable developments, including Toyota’s announcement of a new BEV assembly plant in Kentucky and its decision to adopt the Tesla NACS charging standard, providing access to over 20,000 Supercharger outlets. These changes suggest a shift in Toyota’s approach to electrification.
Considering the vehicles Toyota is currently evaluating, it is speculated that an electric Tundra might be the first to hit the market, followed by an all-electric Tacoma.