Toyota Launches Electric Hilux Revo Public Transport Pilot in Thailand
Toyota has launched a pilot program in Thailand using nine fully electric Hilux Revo pickup trucks as public transportation vehicles. This move comes as Chinese EV brands are making significant inroads into the Southeast Asian market, challenging the dominance of Japanese automakers.
The electric Hilux Revo trucks have been modified into "song-taews," a type of shared taxi popular in Thailand. These vehicles will operate on fixed routes in the seaside city of Pattaya, located about 100 kilometers east of Bangkok.
This initiative is part of Toyota's efforts to maintain its market share in Thailand, which has long been a key hub for auto assembly and exports. The Thai government's subsidies and tax incentives have attracted significant investment from Chinese EV makers, who have committed over $1.44 billion to the country.
Toyota, which currently holds about a third of the Thai market, plans to deliver a dozen electric pickup trucks to Pattaya. The city's mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, expressed his hope to eventually convert all 700 song-taews in Pattaya to electric vehicles.
Pickup trucks are highly popular in Thailand, accounting for roughly half of all vehicle sales. Isuzu, another major player in the Thai market, also plans to establish a plant for the production of its electric D-MAX pickup truck, targeting both domestic and export markets.
While Toyota has announced plans to mass produce the electric Hilux Revo by 2025, the location of production remains unspecified. This pilot program in Thailand marks a significant step for Toyota as it seeks to adapt to the rapidly evolving electric vehicle landscape and maintain its position in key markets like Southeast Asia.