- Toyota is showing a new concept pickup truck called the EPU, and it’s electric.
- The EPU concept is smaller than a Tacoma, at 199.6 inches long.
- We’ll see it for the first time in the flesh at the Tokyo auto show, and it looks like it could reach production soon.
The ongoing talk about an upcoming Toyota electric truck is increasing in volume thanks to this new concept called the EPU, a name which we assume stands for electric pickup. Set to be shown at the Tokyo auto show, the EPU is a four-door crew-cab pickup that’s significantly shorter than the Tacoma, measuring 199.6 inches in length. It features a unibody construction, suggesting it could go up against models such as the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Toyota hasn’t released any technical details yet, but we assume this will ride on a new electric platform. Its wheelbase is long and measures 131.9 inches, which fits in between the outgoing Tacoma’s short- and long-bed configurations and is significantly longer than the Maverick’s. That explains the truck’s slightly unusual proportions, as the rear axle is mounted further back than we’re used to seeing on a compact pickup.
The exterior design is remarkably devoid of any odd concept touches, making this EPU look like it could go into production soon. The interior is a bit more futuristic, featuring large display screens, a minimalist dashboard, and a yoke-style steering wheel.
This concept looks significantly different than the previous mid-size electric truck concept Toyota showed a few years ago. That model looked more similar to the new 2024 Tacoma, suggesting that perhaps Toyota is planning multiple electric trucks. We’re not certain that both of them will come to the U.S. market, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they do. Look for more information to come soon, as Toyota will be showing the EPU concept at the Tokyo auto show next week.
Senior Editor
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.