Toyota Diesel Truck

Toyota has long been known for its trucks, but never has offered a diesel version. That has long been rumored to be changing with not one, but two Toyota diesel truck models coming out.

Every Toyota truck released in the United States runs on gasoline. The idea of a diesel version has been bandied about forever by Toyota, but diesel fuel restrictions made the model untenable. The introduction of new “clean diesel” fuels has led to the a reconsideration of the viability of diesel as other manufactures such as VW and BMW release clean diesel cars and SUVs.

Toyota first announced we would see a Toyota diesel truck on the market in 2007. The announcement was made at a Tundra launch and indicated a diesel Tundra would be launched. At a SEMA show, a diesel truck version of the Tundra was displayed. It was a dually version with a Hino engine and Eaton transmission. The remainder of 2007 passed with no news whatsoever on the diesel truck version.

The International Auto Show kicked off in January 2008. The President of Toyota, Katsuaki Watanabe, appeared at the show to apologize for the fall in quality of Toyota products. His apology would ultimately fail as he was replaced in the summer of 2009. Regardless, he indicated the Tundra diesel truck idea was not dead. Instead, it had been expanded. A clean diesel version of both the Tundra and Sequoia would be offered.

We are now in the middle of 2009 and no Toyota diesel truck has been offered, much less two models. The reason is obvious. The economic meltdown absolutely crushed every car company that relied on the American market. This included Toyota. This has resulted in condensing of resources and the diesel truck project is apparently on hold.

Will we ever see a Toyota diesel truck? Yes. The company already offers clean diesel versions of the Landcruiser in other countries, so it is only a matter of time. Once the economy gets humming along again, we should see at least a diesel Toyota Tundra come out.

<< Back to Toyota Information