Toyota Making an Electric Pickup Truck?
Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, is no stranger to electric vehicles (EVs). The company already has several hybrid electric vehicles in their lineup and is now reportedly working on a new all-electric pickup truck.
The news of Toyota’s potential foray into EVs comes from a recent report from Nikkei Asia, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, Toyota is developing a battery-powered pickup truck with a range of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles).
It is also said that the vehicle will be built on Toyota’s new e-TNGA platform, which was designed for EVs. The platform features a flat battery pack that sits beneath the floor and provides better stability and handling.
The report also states that Toyota is Targeting 2021 for the launch of its all-electric pickup truck. It is likely that the vehicle will be sold in both Japan and North America. If true, this would make Toyota one of the first major automakers to enter into the EV pickup truck market.
In addition to building its own EV pickup truck, Toyota is also reportedly exploring strategic partnerships with other companies in order to develop electric vehicles faster and more efficiently. One such partnership could be with BYD, an EV manufacturer based in China. BYD already has several all-electric pickups on the market, so it would make sense for Toyota to partner up with them in order take advantage of their expertise in this space.
It remains to be seen if Toyota will indeed launch an all-electric pickup truck by 2021 or if they will partner up with another company to do so. But one thing is certain: if they do enter this market, it would mark a major shift for one of the world’s largest automakers towards electrification and sustainability.
Conclusion: With their existing lineup of hybrid electric vehicles and reports of an upcoming all-electric pickup truck, it looks like Toyota may indeed be making an electric pickup truck for 2021 or beyond. While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, it would certainly mark a major shift for one of the world’s largest automakers towards electrification and sustainability if true.
