Toyota HiLux EV ute makes Australian debut

Toyota has shown off a battery-electric Toyota HiLux ute concept at a major employee and dealer new-model showcase in Melbourne this week and promised to pursue the EV for launch in Australia if it ever became available.

The HiLux Revo BEV concept was first shown in Thailand in December 2022, local interest was confirmed in early 2023 and it was caught being shipped into Australia via Fremantle earlier this month.

Revo was joined at the showcase by a hybrid-powered Tundra full-size pick-up truck, the new Prado SUV, four-cylinder LandCruiser 70 Series and next-gen C-HR small SUV, among others.

Little technical detail is available about the single-cab HiLux EV, but it is confirmed to be two-wheel drive, intended for on-road short-haul usage and primarily designed to suit the Thai market.

It is being evaluated by Toyota Australia engineers during its visit, but there is as yet no confirmation a production version will be made.

“I can’t tell you when or even if this car makes it to Australia as a production model,” Toyota Australia sales and marketing chief Sean Hanley admitted.

“What I can tell you is that we are optimistic and we would definitely pursue such a vehicle for our market in the future should it become available.”

Hosting media at a preview of the showcase, Hanley said he wasn’t sure if Revo was a preview of an EV ute that new Toyota global boss Koji Sato promised in April would be in production before the end of 2023 as part of a more aggressive EV rollout strategy.

Hanley has previously expressed interest in that vehicle on behalf of Toyota Australia.

“More than likely [Revo is that vehicle],” Hanley said at the showcase. “But I don’t honestly know.”

Instead, Hanley used the Revo as a way to point out a lot of work is still required before an electric ute suited to Australian requirements could compete with the current diesel offerings, including the top-selling HiLux.

“What I am really hanging out for … is a load carrying, trailer towing, remote area, off-road, HiLux 4x4 with zero tailpipe emissions,” said Hanley.

“What a vehicle that would be. And it’s possible.

“But imagine the size, weight and charging time of the battery pack to do all that and achieve 800km of range.

“Rest assured, Toyota is working on it. Of course, our breakthrough work on solid-state batteries may come to the fore and maybe, just maybe … this is where hydrogen fuel-cells could come into their own.”

During his presentation Hanley highlighted work being done to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell HiLux in the UK. He later clarified there was no intention to trial that vehicle in Australia.

Toyota Australia has committed to launching three EVs on the Australian market before the end of 2026, but has so far only confirmed the Toyota bZ4X SUV.

Hanley said there was currently no change to that number, despite Sato’s accelerated EV rollout.

Toyota Australia also continues to expand it hybrid line-up and has promised that more than half of its sales will be electrified in 2025. It will also soon start rolling out vehicles with 48V assistance, although it doesn’t count them as hybrid.

At the same time, it is campaigning to slow the transition to a zero-emissions clampdown on new-vehicle sales in Australia.

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