Toyota EV ute could be here in 2024

A battery-electric Toyota ute could be on sale in Australia as soon as next year as part of a more ambitious EV roll-out under consideration by Australia’s top-selling auto brand.

The all-electric ute, which is yet to be seen publicly, is scheduled for production in late 2023 as part of a dramatically uprated Toyota electrification plan announced in April by new global boss Koji Sato, with Asian and emerging markets as its target.

Local interest in the EV ute was confirmed to carsales by Toyota Australia sales, marketing and dealer development chief Sean Hanley.

“We are certainly studying everything and we are aware of that vehicle,” he said. “We are aware it’s a prototype at the moment and it’s not actually in production as we speak.

“We will certainly look at all the opportunities. No door is shut. This is a fast-moving acceleration of product going on and we are seeing an acceleration of EVs going on in Australia.

“One of the benefits of being a global company is we get these opportunities to choose these cars.

“But it does come back to: is it right for this market and is it right for what customers will expect and want for that vehicle to do in this market?”

Hanley also confirmed the current plan to have three EVs on sale in Australia by the end of 2026 was under review and could be boosted following Sato’s announcement that Toyota will launch of 10 new EVs over the next three years, as part of an accelerated EV plan first outlined in October 2022 and then announced by Sato in February.

The only EV so far locked in for Australian release by the world’s biggest car-maker is the Toyota bZ4X mid-size SUV, which should be on sale here before the end of 2023.

“At this stage our plan hasn’t changed, but it is fair to say that in light of the new announcements we will review our product offering and product line-up,” Hanley said.

“Where it is possible and where there is a product suitable for the Australian market that can help us on our carbon-neutral future then I can tell you we will be lobbying to get it here.

“At the moment we have locked down those three vehicles… but we will certainly look at the opportunity to do more and accelerate along with the global effort.”

Toyota’s accelerated electric vehicle plan includes the development of a new-generation dedicated EV platform with a better driving range and cheaper development costs, V2G charging capability, improved connectivity and upgraded operating systems.

The company has also established a new EV development centre called the BEV Factory, raised its global EV sales target from 1.2 million to 1.5 million by 2026 and committed the equivalent of $55 billion to EV development out to 2030.

Apart from the ute, Toyota has also confirmed an electric small car is will be targeted at Asian and emerging markets, while a three-row electric SUV will enter production in the US in 2025.

More bZ models have also been promised, with two concepts at the Shanghai show previewing vehicles that will go on sale in China in 2024.

Toyota has shown several electric ute concepts recently. In December 2021 former global boss Akio Toyoda revealed 16 Toyota and Lexus EV concepts including a dual-cab ute (pictured here).

A year later Toyoda hosted the unveil of the HiLux-based Revo EV in Thailand (also pictured here).

Hanley subsequently confirmed product experts from Toyota Australia had been sent to Thailand to assess the vehicle.

Hanley said he did not know if the forthcoming ute and the Revo were related.

“I haven’t seen the vehicle myself – I only know what I have read,” he said.

Apart from EV utes, Toyota has also mooted mild-hybrid and full-hybrid versions of the HiLux, which is expected to be replaced by 2025.

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