The Toyota Tundra testing and validation program is finally nearing completion, with the final vehicles in the 280-strong testing fleet now on their way to customers as approval to properly sell the model in Australia finally looms.
That means almost all 280 evaluation vehicles, bar a straggler or two, are now on Australian roads, with the Tundra Insider Program well under way.
The program saw 280 customers selected by Toyota Australia to participate during the evaluation period, where for $2500 per month, the vehicle would be provided under an all-inclusive lease, with the customers reporting back to Toyota regularly.
While Toyota won't officially be drawn on the matter, CarsGuide is expecting news from the brand sooner rather than later, especially given the very first vehicles were put out on test in December last year.
The brand had always promised a 12-month evaluation program, meaning the vehicle could officially go on sale this year, with December the end of the first trial period for the earliest adopters – but we suspect you won't have to wait that long for news.
CarsGuide understands the program is unfolding largely as predicted, and while it has identified minor tweaks required for the Tundra, it is yet to uncover anything that would act as a barrier to the program being approved.
The Tundra remanufacturing program, led by Walkinshaw in Victoria, is the only one of its kind globally, and it required significant investment to bring it to life.
Which is why, in the words of Toyota Australia's VP of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley: “we are not doing this not to launch the car…”
“This has never been done anywhere in the world. So we are not certainly not doing this to not launch the car, I think that’s a fair comment,” Mr Hanley says.
Also fuelling the set-to-launch fire is that, back in February, an auto industry pricing report delivered to CarsGuide featured the Toyota Tundra ute in its pricing report.
Reportedly set at $145,990 (likely before on-road costs), the Tundra would be significantly more expensive than rivals like the Ram 1500 (an entry price of $98,950), Ford F-150 ($106,950) and Chevrolet Silverado ($128,000).
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