The head of Toyota in New Zealand has suggested a hybrid version of the Hilux bakkie will be on the road before the end of 2021.

According to Driven, Toyota New Zealand chief executive Neeraj Lala made the comments during a recent virtual media conference.

“We expect this [hybrid] trend to continue and even expand into commercials,” Lala said. “We hope to have Hilux hybrid enter the market before the end of next year.”

Interestingly, this latest report from Driven claims the Japanese company has confirmed the electrified Hilux will debut in mild-hybrid form, adding it will still “do everything a Hilux needs to do”.

In October 2019, a Toyota executive from Australia confirmed the Hilux would in future feature “some type of electrification”, before two months later hinting a diesel-hybrid powertrain could be on the cards.

Whether this hybridised Hilux will be available in South Africa remains to be seen, considering markets such as New Zealand and Australia source the bakkie from Thailand while SA makes its own at Prospecton in KwaZulu-Natal.

Original article from Car