It's here! Electric Toyota HiLux Revo BEV ute concept lands on Aussie soil unannounced, but what's it doing here?

Toyota Australia has an electric HiLux ute. Just one, for now, as the one-off Toyota HiLux Revo BEV concept has been spotted after being unloaded at the port in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The Revo BEV, which was unveiled in Thailand in December as part of a celebration ceremony for the 60th anniversary of Toyota Motor Thailand, still appears to be somewhat of a ‘taste test’ for the brand in terms of developing an electric version of one of its most popular models. 

Based on the current-generation HiLux, the Revo has been neither confirmed nor denied for production, though given Toyota is readying the launch of a mild-hybrid version of the HiLux with a 48-volt electric system, it seems unlikely the current-generation Hilux will bear a fully electric version.

Toyota Australia has put out no public word about the electric ute’s presence on Australian shores, though given it arrived undisguised, it doesn’t appear to be a closely guarded secret.

Images of the Revo were posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by the volunteer-run The Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA), seen at night at a Port in Fremantle.

When asked by CarsGuide about the concept’s presence in Australia, a spokesperson for Toyota Australia said it has requested the concept for “internal review”.

“Given the popularity of HiLux in Australia, we are grateful our parent company agreed to send this concept car here for internal review,” they said.

“BEVs are one of multiple options Toyota is examining and developing globally to help our customers on their journey to carbon neutrality, leaving no-one behind.”

It’s possible Toyota Australia hopes to examine the Revo for its own learning and benefit, given the popularity of the HiLux in Australia and the inevitability of the need for electric utes once local emission restrictions begin to follow those like stricter European regulations.