Hilux For Commercial Use

THE TOYOTA HILUX HEATS UP THE PICKUP SEGMENT IN INDIA. ASHISH BHATIA LOOKS AT OFFERINGS FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

- ASHISH BHATIA

Toyota Hilux made its way to India in January 2022, five decades after being launched in 1968. Its global sales of over 20 mn units with eight generations in over 180 countries make for a strong business case in India. Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM), in its virtual launch, unveiled the Group’s plan with the ‘High’ on ‘Luxury’ pickup truck in India. Known the world over for its off-road capabilities, the Hilux is claimed to have survived extreme circumstances and lived to tell the tale. This, perhaps is also its biggest selling point as a commercial vehicle, if one were to keep the initial cost of acquisition and cost-benefit analysis on its Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) aside to focus purely on the utilitarian genes of the Hilux.

The pickup goes head-on with the likes of Isuzu D-Max in India and is undoubtedly a more premium offering in three variants expected to score, in performance, over the mainstay offerings from Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the country. Positioned as the premium flagship, in its segment, the Hilux, notably, draws its identity from the Toyota Innova and Fortuner, sharing the IMV2 platform known to have done well for Toyota India. Sharing uncanny commonalities with the Fortuner, it holds its own though. Even though the OEM refrained from spilling the beans on the price (ExShowroom) and commercial delivery time line, it can be expected to take place over the next quarter.

Yoshiki Konishi, Global Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation

Jurachart Jongusuk, Toyota Regional Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation.