The Maxus T90 pickup truck is set to move away from its initial position of being electric only by adding a diesel engine to its range.
This will make the T90 a much more viable prospect for many buyers, with the diesel version able to offer the crucial 1,000kg-plus payload. This means it will be eligible to reclaim VAT and qualify for the commercial vehicle tax rates, something that the Maxus T90 EV is not able to do.
Maxus is fitting a 161hp 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine to the T90. This is the same engine as the one offered in the Maxus Deliver 9 large van, says Maxus UK’s managing director Mark Barrett.
It will come paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and will offer something else that the electric version can’t – four-wheel drive. The full payload will be 1,050kg, which means that it can be fitted with a hard top and still qualify for the tax benefits.
Why the change in approach?
Maxus says that the decision to add a diesel T90 is not a reversal of its recent trend of launching a seemingly endless list of electric vehicles, but more a case of reacting to customer needs.
‘We’ve listened to customers’ feedback,’ said Barrett. ‘The [Maxus] chairman even came over and met various customers and dealers and the biggest issues are with infrastructure. We need to look after our dealer network.’
Barrett doesn’t see the diesel T90 as a short cut to drastically boosting sales, though, saying that the company doesn’t intend to flood the market. Instead he says it is more about getting customers on board who aren’t quite ready for an electric truck so they are in the Maxus family for when they are and when infrastructure has improved.
Hydrogen possible but not in the plans
One fuel option that Maxus is not going to bring to the UK is hydrogen, despite some rivals developing vehicles for this country, such as the Toyota Hilux hydrogen.
Barrett says that there are hydrogen vehicles available to come over, but he has not pushed for it. Instead they will be able to react and bring them to the UK should the situation change and there be an increased demand for it.
‘The cost of hydrogen vehicles versus EVs is it’s way higher,’ said Barrett. ‘We have a lot of hydrogen [vehicles], whether it be trucks or vans, but our mutual agreement with the factory is Europe’s not ready for it.’
How much will the diesel Maxus T90 cost and when will it be on sale?
Barrett says that pricing is still being finalised for the T90 diesel, but that it would be competitive with the current products out in the market.
It is not far off arriving, though, with sales expected to start closer to the end of 2024.
