2024 Toyota Tundra: 300 utes to be leased, still not confirmed for local sale

There will be a fleet of 300 Toyota Tundra utes in the hands of Toyota customers by April 2024. But, according to Toyota, this doesn't confirm that the full-size ute will go on sale in Australia.

The next stage of our right-hand drive re-engineering project is ready to go.

“Local [Tundra] production is underway with our partner Walkinshaw Automotive Group, and 300 prototype vehicles will be delivered progressively between December this year and April 2024”, said Toyota Australia vice president for sales, marketing and franchise operations, Sean Hanley.

4

The Tundra localisation program has already been in action for 12 months, with members of the Wheels Media team having spotted early evaluation vehicles being tested by Toyota engineers near twisty hill routes, suburbs, and with trailers hooked up.

“To help us choose the most appropriate drivers, our dealers will contact potential customers; they’ll provide us with a shortlist for final selection based on location, occupation, and planned usage”, said Hanley.

After careful selection, the first 50 customers will then be offered the car to effectively own. It’s similar to how hydrogen-powered Mirai ‘sales’ operate in Australia. A privilege or a burden for each buyer, it’s certainly a unique way to evaluate a vehicle.

4

Subsequently, another 250 customers will be able to get in on the program – provided the first guinea pigs enjoy their experiences.

“These customers will benefit from an attractive full-service lease also through Toyota Finance Australia that recognises our requirements for customers to provide feedback through the regular dealer check-ins”, Hanley added.

“I stress: this is a test and a trial. This vehicle has not been marked for launch in Australia at this point”, Hanley said with gravitas.

“I want to also stress that this is a real-world evaluation and validation program. And an essential stage before full-scale production can be approved. This is something very different – we've never done this before.”

4

Toyota Tundra availability and pricing

Toyota remains coy about the full release of Tundra, but as the old adage goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Full-size ute sales in Australia have exploded, increasing market share 56.8 per cent year-to-date as right-hand drive versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and RAM 1500 find more and more homes.

The Ford F-150 – the Tundra’s major rival in its US home market – is set for local release this year, and pricing has already been locked in, with a start of $106,950 and peak of $140K.

Expect the Tundra to arrive priced similarly if it does launch (sure seems likely). A 326kW and 790Nm i-Force Max petrol-electric hybrid is the picked engine for Oz, but we’ve also spied a 290kW/515Nm twin-turbo V6-powered example kicking around Melbourne.

“We know there is a growing demand in Australia for full-size pickups”, said Hanely. "We are keen to make Tundra available to all Australians, but we need to ensure it meets their needs and the demands of our diverse Australian environment.”