How Toyota Pickup Trucks Fuel Conflict in Africa: Dark Side of Used Car Exports:

The Boom in Used Car Exports
How are they being used in developing countries like Africa?

As the export of used cars overseas has become more active than before, we often come across the vehicles we used to drive. This is particularly frequent in developing countries and Africa. After we’ve used these vehicles for a long time, they are re-exported, which can sometimes lead to disconnection due to their appearance and performance differing significantly from the original models.

Typically, people needing used sedans and compact cars purchase these vehicles and use them as intended. However, there are cases where this is not the case. One-ton trucks and pickup truck models are sometimes exported to the wrong people in the wrong countries. But where are these countries, and for what purposes are these vehicles used?

Misused Exported Used Trucks

Let’s imagine pickup trucks and one-ton trucks roaming the vast continent of Africa. Usually, one would think they are used for tourism, like on a safari tour in the grasslands where various animals roam.

However, contrary to our hopes, conflicts and civil wars are still occurring in developing countries and Africa, often referred to as the third world. While terrorist organizations are primarily spread across the Middle East, civil wars continue in Central Africa, and the Islamic extremist group (ISIS) has expanded its influence to North Africa.

The Toyota Pickup Truck Hilux: A Popular Model Among Terrorist Organizations

These organizations engage in terrorism, destroy regions, loot, and resist armies. They use exported trucks to mount weapons and increase mobility, making hiding easier.

The vehicle most frequently used by terrorist organizations is the Toyota Hilux pickup truck. Since its release, this vehicle has been the epitome of Toyota’s pickup trucks, demonstrating extreme durability. Being on the smaller side among pickup truck models, it is speculated that its excellent mobility makes it a favorite among terrorists.

Recently, Korean Trucks are Preferred
They are Affordable and Easy to Mount Weapons

In addition, Porter and Bongo trucks exported from Korea and misused overseas can also often be seen. Their preference for Korean one-ton trucks is lower cost and larger cargo space than the Toyota Hilux. Some people have speculated that “since these vehicles are designed for the environment of South Korea, where overloading is common, it would be easy to mount various weapons such as multi-launch rockets and missiles.”

Meanwhile, manufacturers who see their vehicles being used by global threats are likely not pleased. In this era of prevalent war and conflict, there is a bitter coexistence of the desire for peaceful moments and the realization that the technological capabilities of domestic trucks have developed to the point of being favored by terrorists.