Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has set a new record in South Africa by gathering over 1,500 Hilux bakkies in a single location.
The Japanese carmaker is one of many brands attending the annual NAMPO Harvest Day festival, held in Bothaville in the Free State.
This year, Toyota attempted to set a new world record for the largest recorded gathering of Hilux vehicles.
A grand total of 1,545 models made their way to the festival, representing Hilux owners both old and new.
This surpasses the previous benchmark of 1,440 units, which was set during an earlier record attempt at the Atlantis Dunes in Cape Town.
“1,545 Hilux vehicles came together in a remarkable display of brand loyalty and community spirit, officially reclaiming the record for the largest Hilux gathering ever achieved,” said the company.
Since its debut all the way back in 1969, the Hilux has become a staple of the South African auto scene.
One of the models in attendance at NAMPO dated back all the way to the early 1970s, while another had travelled over one million kilometres.
“The record-breaking celebration was an incredibly memorable day. We set sights on making history and our Hilux community rallied behind us from across South Africa,” said Leon Theron, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at TSAM.
This event wasn’t just about the record-breaking attempts, it was about honouring the enduring legacy of the Hilux and the strong community that surrounds it.”
“We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming support of our community in helping us achieve this historic milestone.”
Toyota also undertook four additional Guinness World Record attempts during the event.
The results of these attempts are currently under review and will be announced once officially confirmed.
Next-gen Toyota Hilux makes its debut in South Africa
NAMPO was also an opportunity for Toyota to showcase the upcoming next-generation Hilux.
The new bakkie was curiously absent from this year’s State of the Motoring Industry event – the annual showcase where Toyota unveils its latest products.
Of course, a vehicle as high-profile as the Hilux would have dominated such an event, so it’s possible that Toyota decided to save the reveal for NAMPO, where farmers, commercial fleet operators, and die-hard bakkie fans could see it in person.
One participant in the event was lucky enough to win a brand-new, next-gen Hilux Xtra Cab with complimentary insurance and accessories, making him one of the first people in the country to own the new vehicle.
Toyota has yet to announce the pricing or full model selection for the new bakkie, but we won’t have to wait much longer, as the Hilux is scheduled to go on sale in June 2026.
Loading ...
