BANGKOK: Toyota president Akio Toyoda announced that an electric version of its popular Hilux pick-up truck is coming.

He made the announcement here as Toyota celebrated 60 years in Thailand.

Toyota released a photo of the Hilux Revo BEV concept, showing the exterior of the vehicle. Shown with the vehicle was another concept car called IMV 0 concept, a modular light commercial vehicle prototype, which  is about a year away from series production.

Globally, the compact Hilux has been one of the best-selling pickup trucks and especially so in Thailand. It is now in its eighth generation, and comes with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines depending on markets.

"Between them, they represent two different ends of the automotive spectrum, for different needs and different customers. One designed to support economic growth and mobility for all (IMV 0 concept), and one designed to support carbon neutrality and a better environment for all (Hilux Revo BEV concept)," said Toyota's president.



Toyoda also pointed out that designers and engineers from Thailand have contributed to the development of both vehicles.

The original Toyota IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) Project, announced in 2002, was aimed at developing and producing global models comprising pickup trucks, a multi-purpose vehicle and an SUV outside Japan to cut costs.

The result of the project was the seventh-generation Hilux as well as the first-ever Innova and Fortuner, with all sharing a ladder frame chassis. Thailand was a key catalyst in the IMV project.

Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd was formed in 1962 and now operates three plants. In 2021, they collectively produce 520,000 cars.

The plants produce the Hilux, Corolla, Corolla Cross, Yaris, Yaris Ativ, Camry, C-HR and Fortuner.



At the anniversary, Toyoda also revealed that the automaker is working with Thailand's largest private company, the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, to reduce carbon emissions.

"Together we can reduce CO2 by rethinking the way we deliver consumer goods through zero emission technology like fuel cell trucks and by making driving logistics more energy efficient with our connected technology. Together we will also expand CP's current efforts to make clean hydrogen from bio-mass like chicken manure."

The partnership would roped in other members of the Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation, including Daihatsu, Suzuki, Isuzu and Hino.

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