Volkswagen is previewing a new pickup truck program aimed squarely at South America, with early teasers pointing to a compact, lifestyle-focused model that will sit below the Amarok in size and price.
The company has not released full specs yet, but it has confirmed key planning details, including the vehicle’s name and where it will be built, as VW expands its regional lineup through the second half of the decade.
What Volkswagen Has Confirmed So Far
VW’s Brazilian operation has confirmed the pickup will be called Tukan and has hinted at its launch presentation with a bright “Canary Yellow” color tease. Production is scheduled to start in 2027 at Volkswagen’s São José dos Pinhais facility in the state of Paraná, a plant that already serves as a major hub for the brand in the region.
VW has also tied this pickup to a broader South America strategy that runs through 2028, positioning the truck as one piece of a wider investment push rather than a one-off niche product.
Volkswagen
Where It Fits In VW’s Truck Lineup
The early framing suggests the Tukan will be a smaller, more urban-friendly pickup developed for markets where compact unibody trucks have become the sweet spot for buyers who want utility without full-size dimensions. That places it in the same competitive lane as popular regional pickups that blend passenger-car comfort with a usable bed, and it helps explain why VW is investing in a dedicated local program instead of simply adapting its global offerings.
It is also important not to confuse this with Volkswagen’s separate next-generation Amarok plan, which is also targeted at South America and is expected to arrive on a similar timeline, but is positioned as a larger, more traditional pickup in a different segment.
Why VW Is Still Betting On Regional Variety
This pickup tease lands at a time when Volkswagen is trying to keep multiple product tracks moving at once, from internal-combustion development to EV updates, while meeting increasingly strict regulatory demands across its global footprint. On the EV side, Volkswagen is still refining its core electric lineup as well, showing how the brand is evolving its mainstream models while adding region-specific projects like this new pickup.
