Toyota is one of Japan’s top-leading manufacturers. Therefore, it should be no surprise that they are trying to keep up with the trends of other manufacturers worldwide. One way in which Toyota is trying to keep up with up and coming trends is by trying to put a hybrid truck in the making.
Toyota researched the possibility of making a gasoline electric Tundra hybrid. This was originally said to be completed by the year 2010. They also stated that a diesel electric Tundra would also be considered.
However, after much research as well as trial and error, Toyota came to the conclusion that a hybrid Toyota just wouldn’t be possible. Although Toyota has two cars and one sport utility vehicle that are hybrids, they just don’t feel as though creating a Tundra hybrid makes sense. This is mainly due to the fact that different models of vehicles require different types of fuel saving technology.
Although Toyota won’t be making a hybrid Tundra, which is disappointing, they do have other plans. Toyota plans on making light diesel trucks. This may not be the same as a hybrid, but something is better than nothing.
As far as Toyota’s plans to make a diesel electric Tundra goes, those plans have also been canceled. There has been a slowdown in the truck market. However, Toyota does plan on making a light duty diesel Tundra. This doesn’t seem like something that will happen until the year 2012 or 2013 unfortunately.
So, it currently looks like the manufacturing of new Tundra’s to compete with other manufacturers is at a halt. We will have to wait and see what happens in 2012 and 2013. There be possibilities in the future for Toyota and hybrid trucks, but for the time being Toyota does not seem to believe a hybrid truck will be in the making. The President of Toyota, Jim Lentz, made an official announcement that the idea of a hybrid Tundra is officially dead.
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