Toyota Tundra a step closer to Australian showrooms, as last evaluation vehicle hits the road

The Toyota Tundra pick-up from the US – a direct competitor to the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Ford F-150 – has passed another major milestone in Australia.

The last batch of the first 300 evaluation vehicles are finally in customer hands.

Toyota Australia is yet to formally sign-off on the Tundra becoming a permanent member of the local showroom line-up.

But as of this week the company is another important step closer.

As with its full-size pick-up rivals, the Toyota Tundra is imported from the US in left-hand-drive and remanufactured to right-hand-drive by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne, the same firm that remanufactures factory-backed Ram and Chevrolet pick-ups locally.

However, Toyota Australia has taken the unprecedented step of conducting final validation testing in the hands of 300 of its VIP customers before it gives the green light to the Tundra program.

Toyota dealers have been advised that all 300 of the first examples of the Tundra are now in customer hands, collectively clocking up more than 2 million kilometres across the country in a range of real-world conditions.

In a relatively short space of time, the fleet of Tundra pick-ups have clocked up an average of more than 6000km per vehicle, though many examples have travelled more than 30,000km.

Toyota Australia says the real-world testing process was designed to filter out any potential issues with the donor vehicle or any of the remanufacturing process.

So far, Toyota says, the test fleet has been given a clean bill of health.

As with the factory-backed Ram, Chevrolet and Ford full size pick-ups from the US, the Tundra has up to 500 replacement parts fitted locally – including a new firewall rather than simply cutting a hole in the original left-hand-drive one.

As previously reported, the Toyota Tundra sold in Australia will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired to a hybrid system that promises V8 performance but six-cylinder fuel economy.

Pricing is yet to be announced, however Toyota dealers in Australia canvassed by EFTM have provided estimates of $130,000 to $160,000.

Dealers have been told the top-end Toyota Tundra Capstone may be added to the line-up, however initial reports claimed there would only be two model grades available at the start.

More details including Toyota Australia’s Tundra model range and prices are expected in the coming months before the vehicle goes on sale across the entire dealer network from early next year – if it is given final approval.

Toyota Japan has been particularly cautious about Australia’s right-hand-drive Tundra program because the company has never before undertaken such an exercise – and never before trusted a third party to disassemble and reassemble a vehicle in this way.

EFTM understands if the remanufactured right-hand-drive Tundra does not meet Toyota quality standards, the company will pull the pin on the project and walk away from the millions of dollars invested, rather than risk damage to its reputation.