Plug-in hybrid pickups are nowhere near the norm, but the segment is growing. The BYD Shark 6 DMO is now joined by competitors from Radar and Changan, while Nissan’s Navara Pro could make a local debut after showing up at the 2026 Philippine International Motor Show.
Jetour will soon join the fray, while GWM has already launched its own Cannon Alpha in China and other select markets. Elsewhere, Ford has rolled out a plug-in hybrid version of the famed Ranger, picking up some mixed reactions.
PHOTO BY TopGear.com
Between legacy brands and relatively new manufacturers from China, where does the largest carmaker in the world fall? According to a report from CarExpert.com.au, Toyota has chosen to stay on the defensive regarding creating a plug-in hybrid Hilux.
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Ray Munday, senior manager of product planning and pricing at Toyota Australia, told the publication: “We definitely recognize that there’s some strong competition in that area, and we are looking into it, but until the technology is ready, we’re not going to release something that’s rushed.”
PHOTO BY TopGear.com
In 2025, another executive from Toyota Australia explained that pickup buyers would generally prefer turbodiesel and fully electric powertrains—hence the latest Hilux lineup. With Munday’s sentiments, Toyota may be waiting for the segment to grow a bit more before it makes any moves of its own.
Locally, we’ve seen this strategy before as Toyota Motor Philippines only brought in fully electric offerings toward the latter end of 2025. The brand was a bit late to the party, but it now has three full EVs on offer, including the Hilux 4×4 BEV. One could even argue that fully electric pickups are an even more niche segment, and Toyota could instead bolster its lineup with something more accessible.
If you’ve been waiting for a plug-in hybrid Hilux, though, get ready to keep waiting, as it looks like there are no definite developments on this end.
PHOTO BY TopGear.com
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