Toyota Tundra Will Be A Rare Sidekick To Hilux When It Lands In Japan

Sales To Begin This Summer; Pricing Confirmed

While no official timeframe has been provided, Toyota’s official release states that sales of both the Tundra and Highlander began at its Tokyo showrooms on April 2, while nationwide sales are scheduled to start this summer. A definitive timeframe for sales of US-built Camrys, the reintroduction of which was also confirmed last December, has not yet been revealed, but will apparently begin “as soon as preparations are complete.”

This move follows relaxed rules on Japanese vehicle certification, which came into effect on February 26. This effectively allows US-made vehicles that pass domestic safety inspections to be shipped as-is without additional testing in Japan, and with only mild modifications required. The Tundra will slot into the Japanese lineup above the Hilux 4x4, which was reintroduced to Japan in 2017 following a 13-year hiatus and, oddly,is not sold in North America.

The US-made Tundras imported to Japan will be built atop the same TNGA-F ladder frame chassis, will retain the same dimensions, and will feature the same 3.4-liter Twin-Turbo V6 and 10-speed automatic gearbox. While it's not expressly stated, it's likely the US-imported Toyota Tundra will feature the same 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The Highlander, meanwhile, will retain its TNGA-K chassis and its hybridized 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is likely to produce a US-spec 243 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque.

Prices for the 1794 Edition Tundra will start from 12,000,000 yen (just over $75,000 USD), while the Limited ZR Hybrid Highlander will be available from 8,600,000 yen (around $53,800). Both will be produced at Toyota’s US facility in Texas.

Why Toyota Japan Is Importing The US-Made Tundra And Highlander

This move is expected to ease trade tensions between Japan and the US in the wake of the current administration’s fluctuating tariff situation. Toyota’s official release even states the decision has been made to “help further strengthen Japan-US relations.”

Neither the Tundra pickup nor the midsize Highlander SUV, however, are expected to sell big in Japan, particularly in larger cities where compact and more fuel-efficient models are the norm. Indeed, Toyota Japan thus far is targeting sales of just 80 units of the Tundra per month (or around 960 per annum), and 40 units of the Highlander per month (480 annually). That's a mere fraction compared with the 12,949 Tundras and 6,131 Highlanders sold in the United States just last month, never mind the entire year.

Moreover, all models that will be imported will remain right-hand drive only, and will be priced significantly higher than their US counterparts, since optional extras like the 14-inch multimedia touchscreen, the 12.3-inch TFT color display, and leather seating, will be sold as standard. The Tundra, meanwhile, will not be offered with a hybrid engine, another big selling point for Toyotas in Japan. Minor modifications will only include swapping out the indicator bulbs for orange alternatives, and adjusting the headlamps to meet Japanese glare standards.