The new Hilux BEV is listed on Toyota’s local website, despite a note saying this electric bakkie is not “commercially available” in South Africa…
- Electric bakkie listed on Toyota SA’s website
- “Small sample” set aside for South Africa?
- Dual-motor electric Hilux generates 144 kW
Toyota South Africa Motors recently confirmed pricing for initial derivatives in its 9th-generation Hilux range, each of which employs the brand’s familiar 2.8GD-6 turbodiesel powertrain. Interestingly, though, we also spotted the new Hilux BEV on the Japanese firm’s local website.
Included on a page providing an overview of the 9th-generation bakkie range (as well as featured on a dedicated new-energy vehicle page), the Hilux BEV is listed alongside the oil-burning Legend, Raider and SRX grades. However, the accompanying caption points out the battery-powered Hilux “is not commercially available” in South Africa.
Riaan Esterhuysen, Senior Manager for Public Relations & Corporate Communication at Toyota SA Motors, recently told Cars.co.za during a podcast that the new Hilux BEV is “still in its infancy in terms of an LCV [light commercial vehicle] execution, but it is proof of concept”.
“It will be on offer to the customers. We are bringing those in at a small sampling rate just to check local market response and also [to see] how well the product fares, our usage conditions, etcetera,” Esterhuysen explained. As a reminder, Toyota SA Motors performed a similar exercise with the RAV4 PHEV back in 2022, before quietly rolling it out to the local market in 2024.
The Hilux BEV was recently launched in Australia, with the Japanese brand’s division Down Under suggesting the fresh-faced electric bakkie was “designed with government fleets, mining and construction sectors in mind”.
Available in Australia in the double-cab body style, the electric bakkie features an 82 kW/206 Nm electric motor on the front axle and a 129 kW/269 Nm item on the rear axle. Toyota lists total system power of 144 kW and a braked towing capacity of 2 000 kg. The 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery offers a claimed range of 315 km (NEDC).
Find a Toyota Hilux on Cars.co.za!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why is the new Toyota Hilux BEV listed on the South African website if it is not commercially available?
A: While the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is listed alongside the 9th-generation diesel derivatives, Toyota South Africa Motors is seemingly utilising it as a proof of concept. The company is importing a small sample of units to evaluate local market response, test performance under South African usage conditions and gauge interest before considering a full commercial rollout.
Q: Has Toyota South Africa used this “sampling” strategy for new-energy vehicles before?
A: Yes, this approach mirrors Toyota SA’s previous strategy with the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). The RAV4 PHEV was initially brought into the country in 2022 for local testing and market research purposes before it was quietly launched to the broader South African market in 2024.
Q: What are the mechanical and performance specifications of the electric Hilux bakkie?
A: Based on the double-cab version recently launched in Australia, the Hilux BEV features a dual-motor configuration: an 82 kW/206 Nm electric motor on the front axle and a 129 kW/269 Nm motor on the rear axle, delivering a combined total system output of 144 kW. It is equipped with a 59.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack providing a claimed range of 315 km (NEDC) and features a braked towing capacity of 2 000 kg.
Related content
Toyota Hilux (2026) Price & Spec
