Hybrid and Electric Toyota Pickup Trucks Are Coming
Despite being famous for efficient family cars and hybrids, Toyota makes some thirsty trucks. From the aging V-6 in the Tacoma to the positively ancient 5.7-liter V-8 in the Tundra, Toyota's pickups are falling behind the turbocharged, diesel, hybrid, and soon-to-arrive EV options being launched by Ford, Ram, and GM. But news from the Auto Shanghai 2021 motor show suggests that Toyota could be preparing for some big pickup truck changes.
At the show on Monday, Toyota confirmed that it will unveil hybrid and battery-electric pickup trucks in the near future, according to Motor Authority. But don't go rushing to the dealer to lay down a deposit on an electric Tacoma just yet—this announcement was made in the context of a Chinese-market auto show, with no direct mention of whether it applies to the North American market.
Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Toyota confirmed that all U.S.-model Toyotas will offer a hybrid version by 2025 (except for the Mirai, Toyota's fuel-cell vehicle). "Nothing to confirm on the EV side," the spokesperson added.
So, no confirmation of an electric Tundra or Tacoma for the U.S. But we know that hybrid Toyota pickups are inbound. And since both models are due for a full redesign—and they'll likely share a common platform for the next generation—it would make sense for Toyota to introduce a full EV drivetrain in the redesigned Tacoma and Tundra, even if that's years down the line.
And this is just my speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyota launch the next-generation Tacoma and Tundra exclusively as hybrids. The automaker has already shown its willingness to go hybrid-only with the new Venza and Sienna, and the additional torque offered by a hybrid drivetrain makes a lot of sense for towing, hauling, and off-roading. Given how long each generation of Toyota truck has hung around—the current Tundra dates to 2014, and the Tacoma debuted in 2016—we wouldn't be surprised if an EV edition happens sometime in the next generation of each pickup.
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