Toyota has reignited interest in its fully-electrified lineup with the unveiling of two production vehicles, a concept, and three vehicle silhouettes at the product strategy event hosted by Toyota Motor Europe on March 12, 2025.
The event, which explained the company’s multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality, spotlighted a dual-cab electric pickup truck that bears a striking resemblance to the Toyota Tacoma (pictured below), a model that may soon see an electric variant reach production four to five years after its conceptual debut.
Yoshihiro Nakata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, teased the new lineup, saying, “Without giving too much away, these next three cars will focus on enhancing customer lifestyle just as powerfully as they enhance our carbon neutrality goals. Can you guess what they might be?”
The silhouette’s design rules out the limited-edition single-cab Hilux EV, which TopElectricSUV got to see in Thailand, and the next-generation Hilux, tentatively called ‘Travo,’ expected later this year. As Drive.com.au points out, the Travo is looking like a reworked version of the current Hilux and isn’t designed for a competitive electric model.
Similarly, the teaser’s shape differs from the Toyota EPU Concept unveiled in late 2023, which featured a smaller frame with a stepped nose, contrasting with the upright stance of the teased vehicle.
Instead, the silhouette closely resembles the Toyota ‘Pickup EV’ concept unveiled on December 14, 2021, and shares key design elements with the fourth-generation Tacoma announced in late 2023.
The Tacoma EV was always expected to be a conversion of the gas-powered model on the TNGA-F platform rather than a ground-up electric truck like the Rivian R1T or Chevrolet Silverado EV. This aligns with previous hints from Lexus. Koji Tsukasaki, Chief Engineer of the 2024 Lexus GX, told MotorTrend, “With modifications (to the platform), that’s something that was considered during the original structural development of the car. The base design does account for the possible use of BEVs.”
Visually, the Tacoma EV should keep the five-foot bed of its gas counterpart but adopt a more aerodynamic front end. Toyota hasn’t shared specifications, but the interior is expected to follow the modern-tough styling of the Tacoma, which we found during our review to feature durable materials and a tech-heavy layout.”
Expected features include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch touchscreen, and a dial-type gear shifter. Other likely additions include power-adjustable seats, a moonroof, dual USB-C ports with 52.5W output, and a 10-speaker JBL audio system with a subwoofer and portable speaker.
Featured image: Toyota
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
