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Toyota plans to trial new EV pickup truck in Thailand to counter Chinese rivals BYD, Great Wall Motor
- Pickup trucks are critical to Thailand’s auto market, accounting for nearly half of all vehicle sales last year
- Chinese electric vehicle makers are rapidly gaining market share in Thailand and have pledged US$1.5 billion in investment for manufacturing
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Toyota will soon test a new electric pickup truck in Thailand, its executive said, as the Japanese company strives to boost EV sales in a country where rising competition from Chinese rivals challenges its dominance.
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Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are rapidly gaining market share in Thailand and have pledged some US$1.5 billion investment for new manufacturing facilities there, part of their drive to expand overseas amid slowing domestic sales.
Pras Ganesh, executive vice-president of Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing, said that its engineers were working on adapting its electric pickups to local conditions and building up EV R&D capacity in Thailand, one of Toyota’s five global R&D centres.
The world’s top-selling carmaker unveiled the electric version of its popular HiLux pickup truck last year but has not yet said when commercial sales would begin.
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Personal mobility devices and electric vehicles showcased at Japan Mobility Show
Personal mobility devices and electric vehicles showcased at Japan Mobility Show
Its launch in Thailand would mark a fresh attempt by Toyota to counter mounting Chinese competition there after sales of its bz4X electric SUV, which began last year, were dwarfed by sales of rivals including BYD and Great Wall Motor.
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