Is Toyota working on a baby pickup based on the Corolla?

Toyota is up to something, and the folks at Auto News got wind of it. When one of the world’s top-selling auto brands makes a move, the whole world takes notice. So, what is all this brouhaha about a Corolla-based pickup truck the Japanese automaker is supposedly working on?

First, the why. Toyota does not have a small pickup truck in the United States, which is one of its biggest markets. The Hilux was offered only until the mid-90s. They currently have the midsize Tacoma, but it starts to get bigger from there.

Second, Toyota wants a slice of the small pickup truck segment dominated by the Ford Maverick (and the Hyundai Santa Cruz). Since the American automaker launched its small pickup truck, it has been trending upward. Most of its buyers are not even Ford customers, which means the marque is taking clients away from Toyota (and other brands). The Maverick is currently sold out for the year, signaling strong demand for a small pickup truck.

Third is the platform. Toyota wants to use the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform instead of the IMV (Innovative Multi-purpose Vehicle) used by Hilux, Fortuner, and Innova. Surprisingly, Toyota imagines it as an SUV with a bed but wants its base to come from the popular Corolla sedan. That being said, the chassis of this upcoming small pickup truck will need to be more robust to match the 4,000-pound towing capability of the Maverick.

Finally, this will be offered (initially) in the United States because it will be made in the Corolla plant in Mississippi, but we hope Toyota sees it in them to bring it to Asia. If all plans fall into place, expect to see it sometime around 2027.

Do you think there is a market for a small pickup truck that will slot below the Hilux in the Philippine market?