Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially unveiled the next-generation Tamaraw in a launch event held simultaneously in eight locations nationwide.
The company unveiled the various forms and conversions of its new commercial vehicle to audiences in Makati City, Quezon City, Pasay City, Pampanga, Laguna, Cebu City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City and to those watching via the online livestream.
The next-generation Tamaraw has been reimagined for the modern era as a multi-purpose people and goods mover both for business and personal use. It is manufactured locally at the Toyota Motor Philippines plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The new Tamaraw is built on Toyota’s global IMV platform, retaining the same DNA as the Tamaraw that plied Philippine roads in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“We sat down and communicated with potential customers to ask what they look for in the Tamaraw. Hearing their comments and requests face-to-face regarding our vehicles inspired and reminded me and our team to make ever-better cars,” shared TMP president Masando Hashimoto during the grand launch.
Available in diesel and gas variants, the next-generation Tamaraw offers multiple body styles for different passenger and cargo requirements. The diesel variants are powered by a fuel-efficient 2.4L 2GD-FTV engine tailored for heavy-duty tasks, while the gas variants are equipped with a reliable 2.0L 1TR-FE engine.
During the launch, various configurations of the next-generation Toyota Tamaraw’s original equipment variants were introduced, including the long wheelbase (LWB) Dropside and LWB Utility Van, which will be available for retail in January 2025; and the LWB Aluminum Cargo, which will have its commercial release in March.
Retail sales for the short wheelbase (SWB) variants of the Utility Van, Dropside, and Aluminum Cargo will start at a later date.
Soon to arrive conversions Ambulance, Patrol Van, and Refrigerated Van were also exhibited, showing the next-generation Tamaraw’s versatility.
Other special conversions soon to be available for order such as the Food Truck, Mobile Service Vehicle, and Camper RV were also showcased, displaying the conversion capabilities of TMP in partnership with Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines (TMSPH).
“The possibilities for this vehicle are truly endless. These possibilities, which will have a lasting effect on the lives of Filipinos now and in the future, is what we envision in our tagline, Abante, Posible,” added Hashimoto.
Danny Cruz, TMP first vice president for vehicles sales operations, shared during the marketing presentation, “As explained by Chief Engineer Jira, the next-generation Tamaraw transforms to the body style best suited for your needs. It can convert into anything we can imagine. We made sure we truly knew our customers by going to small and medium business owners all over the country to understand their mobility challenges.”
In-house conversions such as the Utility Van, Dropside, and Aluminum Cargo offer features that cater to customers’ everyday commercial or even personal needs.
The Utility Van’s spacious interior, which can be maximized by folding the seats, makes it perfect for transporting goods or people comfortably. It also has a built-in rear A/C.
The Dropside’s large deck space, high panel height, and three-side panel access allows easy loading and unloading of various goods.
The Aluminum Cargo is designed to carry both dry and wet goods with its aluminum interior and exterior panels, ensuring durability and reliability in all conditions.
The next-generation Toyota Tamaraw starts at P937,000 for the 2.4 Dropside DSL M/T LWB variant. TMP chairman Alfred V. Ty disclosed during the Tamaraw Roll-off Ceremony on November 28 that TMP will later offer a gas-powered SWB variant that will start below P800,000.
The top-of-the-line 2.4 GL Dropside DSL A/T LWB variant, meanwhile, is available at P1,075,000. It has a max output of 150/3,400 ps/rpm and a max torque of 400/1,600-2,000 Nm/rpm. It also comes with safety features such as driver and passenger airbags, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
The 2.4 Aluminum Cargo DSL M/T LWB and 2.4 Utility Van DSL M/T LWB are priced at P1,041,000 and P1,142,000, respectively.
The next-generation Toyota Tamaraw falls under the commercial vehicle segment, which accounts for 73.64 percent of the market share, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI)’s 2024 Q3 report.
This segment includes vehicles used by micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs), local government units (LGUs), logistics facilities, and many more.
