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Toyota says the addition of an electrical model of its new-generation HiLux – and the announcement a hydrogen fuel-cell electrical HiLux has been locked in for 2028 – isn’t merely a play to fulfill ever tightening emissions laws.
Order books for the new-generation HiLux will open subsequent month and, from the primary quarter of 2026, the lineup will embody an electrical model.
Toyota Australia can be introducing a HiLux fuel-cell electrical automobile (FCEV) in 2028.
The brand new HiLux fashions arrive within the wake of Australia’s New Automobile Effectivity Commonplace (NVES), which got here into impact in 2025 and imposed carbon-dioxide emissions limits for every model.
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Manufacturers exceeding a median throughout all automobiles they promote are topic to fines – with these under in a position to financial institution ‘credit’ they’ll on-sell to different automakers.
However Toyota Australia has argued the brand new HiLux variants received’t be as useful in assembly its targets as its rising lineup of hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
“The [HiLux BEV] quantity’s virtually incidental within the grand scheme of 200,000-plus automobiles,” mentioned Toyota Australia vp of gross sales and advertising and marketing, Sean Hanley, at a media briefing.
The highest-selling automobile model in Australia since 2003, Toyota offered a document 241,296 automobiles right here in 2024 and is on monitor to promote an identical quantity this 12 months.
“Any BEV is useful since you construct credit, proper? So, any BEV you promote goes to be useful – plug-in [hybrid] and hybrid, then again, might be extremely useful,” mentioned Mr Hanley.
“NVES is but topic to an additional overview on the finish of ’26. We’d ask authorities to think about very fastidiously NVES to have [an] ZLEV [Zero and Low Emissions Vehicle] method.
“Meaning zero-to-low emission automobiles – that might be plug-in hybrids, BEVs, gasoline cell electrics … We’d recommend that hybrids ought to nonetheless play an integral position in any NVES growth, however we’ll have to attend and see whether or not that comes about.”
Mr Hanley mentioned the automaker isn’t calling for a soothing of emissions limits however mentioned hybrids and plug-in hybrids ought to rely in direction of NVES credit on an ongoing foundation, even when they don’t fall under NVES limits.
The brand new LandCruiser Hybrid, scheduled to launch right here in March 2026, is one such automobile, with Mr Hanley confirming it is going to be penalised underneath NVES because it received’t meet 2026 limits.
“I’m suggesting that ZLEV method for a interval – perhaps not ceaselessly, for a interval – can be a extra wise method on coverage and be certain that we transfer in direction of decarbonisation,” Mr Hanley mentioned.
“As a result of take a look proper now … our stats are slightly below fifty per cent of all automobiles we are going to promote – we’re speaking a whole lot of 1000’s of automobiles we’ll will promote this 12 months – slightly below fifty p.c are going to be hybrids.”
“What’s that telling you concerning the market proper now? For a interval, I’m suggesting that hybrid ought to proceed to rely in direction of credit.”
“I get you’ve bought to convey carbon [emissions] down … however if you wish to transition to decarbonisation, take shoppers with you, as a result of should you lower them off, you already know what occurs? They stick with what they’ve bought. Is that going to decarbonise us any faster?”
Toyota has been criticised globally for gradual roll-out of BEVs, sticking to its ‘multi-pathway’ method of various powertrains – together with hybrid, diesel, PHEV and BEVs – for various markets.
In 2025 it launched its first BEV, the bZ4X mid-size SUV, to Australian showrooms, and can observe this with the bZ4X Touring in 2026 in addition to the HiLux BEV.
The C-HR BEV has been confirmed for 2027, with the HiLux FCEV locked in for a 2028 Australian on-sale.
MORE: Discover the Toyota HiLux showroom
