In the Thai seaside town of Pattaya, Toyota Motor Thailand introduced a public transport project featuring nine fully electric Hilux Revo pickup trucks that have been repurposed for use as public transportation vehicles known as song-taews. These electric pickup trucks were deployed for fixed-route transit in Pattaya, which is located about 100 km east of Bangkok, showcasing Toyota's move towards embracing electric vehicles in a market where Chinese EV brands are increasingly investing.
The decision by Toyota to introduce electric pickup trucks in Thailand aligns with the country's growing shift towards electric mobility, driven by government subsidies and tax incentives that have attracted significant investment from Chinese automakers. Japanese automotive giants like Toyota, Honda, and Isuzu have historically dominated the Thai auto industry, but the emergence of Chinese players like Chery Automobile, BYD, Changan Automobile, and Great Wall Motors reflects a changing landscape within the region's auto sector. Toyota's delivery of a dozen electric pickup trucks to Pattaya signals a tangible step towards reducing pollution in the city and potentially converting its entire fleet of 700 song-taews into electric vehicles.