Toyota will pause production of its iconic LandCruiser 70 Series later this year, to update the vehicle in line with new emissions regulations.

The production pause is expected to occur in September, though reports suggest Toyota has sufficient stock to meet consumer demand during the hiatus.

This update is in response to ADR 80/04 (Australian Design Rule 80/04 – Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles), which was formally legislated on February 20, 2023. The rule introduces new emissions standards for heavy vehicles and applies to all M (passenger) and N (goods) category vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) exceeding 3500kg.

ADR 80/04 mandated that – from November 1, 2024 – all new heavy vehicle models approved and supplied to Australia for the first time must comply with ADR 80/04. Phase two mandates that – from November 1, 2025 – all heavy vehicles supplied to Australia, including existing models, must meet the new emissions standards.

To meet these standards, ADR 80/04 requires the use of advanced emissions control technologies, including Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF). AdBlue, a urea-based fluid, will play a crucial role in helping diesel vehicles meet these stricter emissions standards – it’s used in SCR systems to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 per cent.

As Australia transitions to adopt Euro 6 and even stricter Euro 6d standards, AdBlue will be essential for compliance in trucks, buses, and dual-cab utes.

Up until the end of April, Toyota has sold a total of 3159 LandCruiser 70 units.