Toyota plans hydrogen Hilux launch in Europe for 2028

Toyota announced plans on Monday to launch a hydrogen fuel-cell version of its Hilux pickup in Europe in 2028. The company is targeting vehicle leasing firms and other corporate fleet customers. The vehicle will deliver a range exceeding 400 kilometres and a payload capacity of up to 2.5 tonnes. Toyota unveiled the plans at IAA Transportation, the world's largest commercial vehicle trade fair, following an earlier prototype presented in the United Kingdom in 2023.

The Hilux is widely popular among retail consumers in regions such as Southeast Asia, but Toyota positions the model in Europe as a light commercial vehicle for leasing fleets. The automaker did not disclose the vehicle height or the price of the hydrogen model. Ahead of the commercial launch, Toyota will compete in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia in January 2027, the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship, using a vehicle based on the hydrogen Hilux.

Toyota Professional, the commercial vehicle division in Europe, aims to sell 200,000 light commercial vehicles by 2030. That goal represents a 20% increase over 2025 levels and targets an 8% market share, which is a gain of 2 percentage points.

At the same event, Toyota presented a fuel-cell system with maximum output of 300 kilowatts for heavy-duty trucks, matching the power of a diesel engine. According to Toyota, power output and durability doubled compared with the previous generation, while fuel efficiency increased by 20%. Toyota plans to supply the new fuel system to Swedish truckmaker Scania and Italy's Iveco for pilot programmes.