LISTEN: ‘Junior’ Toyota Hilux bakkie edges closer to reality

The hotly debated “junior” Toyota Hilux topic has again flared up following reports from Indonesia.

Listen to Pitstop podcast

In The Citizen Motoring’s Pitstop podcast, Jaco van der Merwe and Charl Bosch discuss the so-called Junior Toyota Hilux. They discuss the details emerging out of Indonesia and what the implications could be for South Africa.

Toyota officially showcased the Rangga concept bakkie at the Gaikindo Indonesia Auto Show in August. The Rangga is described as a cost-effective business solution which can be offered in a variety of body styles. These from a dropside bakkie to an ice cream van and even fire struck.

According to Top Gear Philippines, the Rangga will enter production in the later stage of 2023 in Indonesia before being assembled at the Santa Rosa plant located some 60 km from the capital, Manila, from imported semi-knockdown kits.

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Production-ready

Top Gear Philippines has now reported that the Rangga will enter production towards the end of 2023. The publication claims that the bakkie will be built at the Santo Rosa plant north of Manila from imported semi-knockdown kits.

Rumours has it that there as two small bakkies under study for introduction as the Junior Toyota Hilux. Apart from the Ranga, the other one will likely be based on the Corolla Cross.

However, it is unlikely that one of the Junior Toyota Hiluxes under consideration will be a half-tonner. Despite the last half-tonner on sale locally, the Nissan NP200, going out of production soon, it seems that no manufacturer is willing to fill that void.

What is more likely is that the new bakkie will have a payload of around a ton, but stripped down in specification from its Toyota Hilux siblings.

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Junior Toyota Hilux ‘for Africa’

Although he did not divulge any details, Leon Theron,  Toyota South Africa Motors senior vice-president for sales and marketing, did confirm as much in May.

Theron said that the bakkie is likely to be presented by “around 2025 to 2026” and that it will be a product “for the African market”.

If would make sense for the local version of the Junior Toyota Hilux to be based on the Corolla Cross. The Toyota Corolla Cross is built alongside the Toyota Hilux in Durban.