VW TARO parts catalogue

VW TARO parts: find out more! Which ones to choose, when to change them, and how much they cost

Volkswagen Taro

Volkswagen Taro was a pickup produced from  1989 to 1997 in Emden, Germany. Volkswagen Taro is a  rebadge of Toyota Hilux.

The name "Taro" is a Japanese suffix which is added to the name of the first son or elder brother in a family.

History of Volkswagen Taro creation

Presentation of Volkswagen Taro cars is a result of cooperation of the Volkswagen and Toyota companies. By partner agreements with the Toyota company, developers tried to create a pickup with the loading capacity of one tonne and to occupy the corresponding segment of the market. Volkswagen Group at that time had no pickup with a high loading capacity, and heads of Toyota wanted to expand to the European market with their own pickup.

In the late eighties, the agreement on the beginning of production of the Volkswagen Taro car was signed in Hanover, Germany. Nevertheless, serial release of the car began only in 1989.

The massive radiator grille, stylish stamping on doors and large headlights became distinctive features of the exterior. In the interior of Volkswagen Taro, inexpensive materials dominated: plastic and textiles. Designers did not plan to create higher class packages, therefore the car had a simple dashboard and other elements of the interior.

Engineers were prioritising functionality and loading capacity and not speed. Buyers could choose between rear-drive or four-wheel drive Volkswagen Taro. At the same time,  for the four-wheel drive modification, engineers created a selective 4-wheel drive system. The torque was transmitted to the rear axle, but by means of the transfer case switched also to the front wheels.

The Volkswagen Taro model had poor sales therefore it was decided not to carry out its improvement. In 1997 production of the model was stopped because of low sales in the territory of the European countries. The niche of the cargo pickup in Volkswagen was empty for a long time until in 2010 there was a Volkswagen Amarok car.