Photo: SRK Designs on YouTube
Takashi Watanabe was elevated to the position of Lexus International president in April 2023. Under his watch, the luxury-oriented marque intends to launch a plethora of EVs from 2026 onward. The plan is to launch electrified options for every model by 2030, the intention being to go fully EV by 2025.
The lynchpin of this zero-emission shift is Toyota's next-generation batteries, which promise high driving ranges. For lithium-ion batteries, make that more than 800 kilometers (497 miles). Lithium iron phosphate batteries are due in 2026 with over 600 kilometers (373 miles) of driving range. Come 2027, Toyota plans to launch lithium-ion batteries of the solid-state variety capable of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The second generation of solid-state battery packs are said to be good for in excess of 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) on a charge.
Pretty intriguing, but not as intriguing as Takashi Watanabe confirming that Lexus is open to an electric pickup truck. Speaking to Australian motoring publication Drive, the big kahuna made it clear that Lexus isn't considering an internal combustion-engined pickup truck based on an existing model. Fully electric is the only way to go.
Watanabe further made it clear that consumer demand is key to the Lexus electric pickup truck happening or not. For the time being, the brand isn't even considering such a thing because not even Toyota has ventured into the electric truck segment.
Toyota is – of course – tasked with the development of electric pickup trucks. If a Tacoma- or Tundra-sized electric workhorse sells in sufficient numbers, then Lexus will be much obliged to spruce said vehicle up with a nicer interior and exterior styling.
When Toyota released its financial results for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed the introduction of a dedicated battery-electric vehicle platform in 2026. The company didn't say whether said platform is a unibody or a body-on-frame design, which leaves the door open for speculation. There is a possibility for the TNGA-F of the Tacoma and Tundra to be adapted for EV applications, but remember that a platform developed for internal combustion-engined vehicles isn't the optimal choice for battery-electric vehicles.
We also have to remember that no fewer than two electric truck concepts were revealed in December 2022 by former Toyota chief executive officer Akio Toyoda. The smaller IMV 0 concept is expected to start production in Thailand sometime in the first half of 2024, whereas the Hilux Revo BEV concept is obviously related to the current-gen Hilux. The latter isn't coming to market anytime soon, and neither will the 2024 model year Tacoma-inspired concept from December 2021.
Pretty intriguing, but not as intriguing as Takashi Watanabe confirming that Lexus is open to an electric pickup truck. Speaking to Australian motoring publication Drive, the big kahuna made it clear that Lexus isn't considering an internal combustion-engined pickup truck based on an existing model. Fully electric is the only way to go.
Watanabe further made it clear that consumer demand is key to the Lexus electric pickup truck happening or not. For the time being, the brand isn't even considering such a thing because not even Toyota has ventured into the electric truck segment.
Toyota is – of course – tasked with the development of electric pickup trucks. If a Tacoma- or Tundra-sized electric workhorse sells in sufficient numbers, then Lexus will be much obliged to spruce said vehicle up with a nicer interior and exterior styling.
When Toyota released its financial results for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed the introduction of a dedicated battery-electric vehicle platform in 2026. The company didn't say whether said platform is a unibody or a body-on-frame design, which leaves the door open for speculation. There is a possibility for the TNGA-F of the Tacoma and Tundra to be adapted for EV applications, but remember that a platform developed for internal combustion-engined vehicles isn't the optimal choice for battery-electric vehicles.
We also have to remember that no fewer than two electric truck concepts were revealed in December 2022 by former Toyota chief executive officer Akio Toyoda. The smaller IMV 0 concept is expected to start production in Thailand sometime in the first half of 2024, whereas the Hilux Revo BEV concept is obviously related to the current-gen Hilux. The latter isn't coming to market anytime soon, and neither will the 2024 model year Tacoma-inspired concept from December 2021.
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