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Toyota Motor Corporation launched the trial for its electric pickup trucks in Thailand. The Japanese automaker said its pilot project brought nine fully electric Hilux Revo pickups to key Thai market.
According to Bangkok Post, Toyota Motor’s electric trucks are being tested in a country-wide beach resort city. This project shows the increasing determination of Japanese vehicle manufacturers to face Chinese players head-on in the competitive EV market in the region.
Introduction of Toyota EV Pickups in Thailand
It was reported that the battery of Toyota’s electric Hilux Revo was also adjusted for Songtaews, pickup trucks converted into public transport vehicles. These are common means of transport in the country, as well as in Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. They are used as shared taxis or buses in the said territories.
In any case, Toyota Motor debuted its electric trucks through a motorcade passing through the seaside city of Chon Buri, about 100 kilometers from the east side of Bangkok. After the launch, the Hilux Revo pickups were deployed for fixed-route transit.
“This is a memorable day,” Pattaya’s Mayor Poramet Ngampichet commented about the arrival of Toyota’s EVs in the vicinity. “Pattaya is a major tourist city for Thailand and so lowering pollution is important.”
Toyota to Deploy More EVs
Global Data via Yahoo Finance reported that Toyota Motor will bring more electric pickup trucks to Pattaya. Mayor Poramet said he aims to convert all the songtaews in the city into electric vehicles.
Currently, the area has a fleet of 700 songtaews, as pickup trucks are popular in Thailand. Pickup models account for around half of vehicle sales for Toyota and other brands.
Photo by: Christina Telep/Unsplash
