After years of anticipation, the Toyota Tundra has officially landed in South Africa, giving local bakkie enthusiasts access to one of the boldest and most powerful pickup trucks ever to come out of the United States.
Although Toyota only manufactures the Tundra in left-hand drive, South Africans can now buy a right-hand-drive version thanks to Rospa Imports South Africa, in partnership with Australian conversion specialists Walkinshaw Automotive.
Imported and Converted for Local Roads
The Tundra is not sold directly by Toyota South Africa Motors, but is imported and converted to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw Automotive in Australia before being brought to Mzansi by Durban-based Rospa, working alongside Australian-born Autogroup International.
This collaboration will see three Tundra derivatives offered locally:
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TRD Pro – off-road focused
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1794 Edition – luxury-focused
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Capstone – flagship premium model
Hybrid Twin-Turbo V6 Power
All local models are powered by Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, which pairs a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine with an electric motor — the same powertrain architecture found in the Land Cruiser 300, but significantly uprated.
The result is an impressive:
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326kW of power
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790Nm of torque
This marks a major increase over the Land Cruiser 300’s 305kW and 650Nm outputs, making the Tundra one of the most powerful bakkies ever offered in South Africa.
Local Pricing Announced
Rospa has confirmed pricing for the first two variants:
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Toyota Tundra i-Force Max TRD Pro 4WD – R3 920 000
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Toyota Tundra Capstone 4WD – R4 000 000
Pricing for the 1794 Edition is expected to be announced later.
Warranty and After-Sales Support
While the Tundra is not backed by Toyota South Africa Motors, Rospa offers a three-year / 50 000 km warranty. The importer has also assured buyers that factory-trained technicians based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban will provide after-sales support.
Autogroup International CEO Rob Hill highlighted the company’s experience in vehicle conversions:
“Since the early 1990s, we have carefully re-engineered over 5 000 right-hand-drive vehicles for export all over the world. We can now add South Africa to that list through Rospa International, a company that shares our vision and passion.”
A Dream Bakkie for Local Buyers
With its massive road presence, advanced hybrid performance, and luxury-meets-off-road appeal, the Toyota Tundra is poised to become a status symbol among South Africa’s high-end bakkie market — even at its premium price point.
