Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max Parts From Thailand: What Fits, What Stops a Box at the Border
Thailand is the export base for both pickups. Toyota chose Thailand in 2002 as the base of its IMV pickup programme. Isuzu moved all export pickup production from Japan to Thailand the same year. A box of parts faces 3 checks: does the part fit your truck? Asbestos for Australia? Does it contain batteries or other dangerous goods e.g. airbags?
Why are so many Hilux and D-Max parts made in Thailand?
Toyota built their first IMV model (the Hilux) from the ground up in Thailand. Since then, they have exported over 4 million IMV vehicles from Thailand to 124 countries. Isuzu also has their global mother plant for pickup trucks in Thailand. They supply more than 100 countries and regions.
The IMV project also helped us create a new supply chain here in Thailand increasing our network of local suppliers by 41%, as the production of 2,000 parts were transferred from Japan to Thailand increasing total local content from 60% to 93%.
Source: Toyota Motor Thailand 60th anniversary, Toyota Motor Corporation, global.toyota.
The supply chain is the reason the parts are here. Production of 2,000 parts moved from Japan to Thailand. The supplier base of the truck was moved with it. Isuzu’s Thai group page lists exports of pickups, PPVs and spare parts to overseas markets. Isuzu moved its pickup research and development base to Thailand in 2010.
Thai export figure, 2025 | Value | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
Vehicles exported | 928,187, down 9 percent on 2024 | All makes and types |
Pick-ups exported | 706,503 | All pick-up makes, not Hilux and D-Max alone |
Vehicle exports to Oceania | 256,410 | All makes |
Vehicle exports to the Middle East | 200,001 | All makes |
Vehicle exports to Africa | 31,566 | All makes |
Auto parts exported | 22,451 million USD, up 8 percent | Parts, tires, engines and batteries together |
Motor vehicle parts line | 7,127 million USD | No split by make or model |
Sources: Thai Automotive Industry Monthly Update, January 2026, Automotive Industry Club, Federation of Thai Industries; Ministry of Commerce Information and Communication Technology Center with the Customs Department.
There is no official figure for Hilux or D-Max parts alone. The pick-up export line counts every make, and the parts line has no model split.
Will a part from Thailand fit the Hilux or D-Max in my country?
It depends on the market. Toyota also builds the Hilux in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Cambodia, Myanmar. Isuzu builds the D-Max in Thailand, South Africa, India. Neither maker publishes a rule that a part sold in Thailand fits the same model sold elsewhere. The part number is the key.
Isuzu exports light commercial vehicles (LCV) to more than 100 countries and regions around the world from three global production locations in Thailand, South Africa, and India
Source: D-MAX launch in South Africa, Isuzu Motors, isuzu-global.com.
Australia has the longest relationship with the Thai plants. The first Hilux from Thailand was shipped to Australia in 1998, after the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia. The first Isuzu pickup exports from Thailand went to Australia in 1999. Exports of the all-new D-Max from Thailand began in September 2020, starting with Australia. A buyer matches the part number to their own vehicle with the maker catalogue or a dealer before paying.
Yes. Toyota announced the 9th generation Hilux in Thailand on 10 November 2025. Introduction in selected markets is planned from fiscal 2026. Isuzu launched a new 2.2 litre RZ4F diesel in Thailand on 20 November 2024. D-Max EV production in Thailand started April 2025. Check the generation as well.
Genuine, OEM or aftermarket: what do Toyota and Isuzu call them?
Toyota and Isuzu call their own parts "genuine". Toyota separates counterfeit parts (made without Toyota authorization, carry its trademark) from aftermarket parts (Toyota calls aftermarket companies "legitimate"). Isuzu adds cheaper tiers, with different names per market. Neither gives OEM one fixed meaning.
So, a counterfeit part is a part that is produced without Toyota’s authorization, and the producer of that part applies our trademark.
Source: Toyota pressroom podcast on counterfeit parts, Toyota Motor North America, pressroom.toyota.com.
Maker and market | Tier | What the maker says |
|---|---|---|
Toyota Australia | Toyota Genuine Parts | The warranty covers only Genuine Parts sold through the Toyota dealer network |
Toyota South Africa | Genuine Parts | 12-month warranty, ordered through authorised dealers |
Isuzu UTE Australia | Genuine Parts, Best Value Parts | Genuine warranted 1 year or 20,000 km; Best Value is a secondary range of maintenance parts |
Isuzu UK | Genuine Parts, Approved Parts | Genuine made to Original Equipment Engineering (OEM) standards; Approved is the more cost-effective option |
Isuzu Philippines | Select Parts | Compared by Isuzu with other aftermarket brands |
Sources: Toyota Australia; Toyota South Africa; Isuzu UTE Australia; Isuzu UK; Isuzu Philippines.
Toyota Australia says tens of thousands of fake parts are circulating in Australia, often bought online. In the past some contained asbestos. Thailand bans the export of goods bearing fake or imitation trademarks. A fake part is stopped at the Thai border too.
Guide: Bangkok auto parts markets
Do brake pads, clutches and gaskets need an asbestos check for Australia?
Yes. Australia has a zero percent asbestos tolerance. Australia does not accept other countries’ tolerance levels. Australian Border Force has named brake pads and shoes, clutch linings, cylinder head and exhaust gaskets as the most common vehicle parts found with asbestos.
A ‘face value’ letter from the supplier, or the supplier’s mechanic, merely stating there is no asbestos content is insufficient assurance.
Source: Asbestos risk when importing a vehicle, fact sheet, Australian Border Force, abf.gov.au.
Asbestos is a very dangerous fibre which can cause cancer. Some countries including Australia have banned it completely. At the Australian border, suspect goods are tested by a NATA accredited laboratory at the owner's expense. If asbestos is found the goods are seized and forfeited. In some cases the importer can face fines and in severe cases jail for up to 5 years.
There has been a recall on record for asbestos in Hilux front brake pads sold in Australia. On 12 November 2015 Product Safety Australia recalled front brake pads suitable for Toyota Hilux and Hiace, sold online 1 June 2013 to 19 October 2015, testing found chrysotile asbestos. The Australian Border Force warns that aftermarket parts are often sourced from risk countries but shipped from countries with asbestos bans, so the country on the box is not proof. Used parts also face a biosecurity check and must arrive clean of soil, animal and plant material.
What cannot go in a box of parts on a flight?
Batteries, airbag modules, aerosols, paint, anything with fuel residue are dangerous goods on a flight. Each one must be declared or refused before the box is booked. IATA names automotive spare parts containing airbags as an example of dangerous goods.
Examples include pharmaceuticals packed with dry ice, temperature-monitoring devices containing lithium batteries, automotive spare parts containing airbags, or veterinary shipments requiring refrigerated packaging systems.
Source: White Paper, Safety and Security in the Cargo Supply Chain, 24 September 2026, IATA, iata.org.
The Philippines has a rule for resale. DTI has a list of products that need a PS or ICC mark before sale: lead acid batteries, tires, inner tubes, brake fluid, safety glass, seat belts. Used parts need prior import clearance from DTI.
Guides: items that cannot be shipped from Thailand, Thai motorcycle parts to the Philippines
How Dragon Courier ships Hilux and D-Max parts
We clear customs ourselves in Australia, and a courier does the last leg to the door, around 5 to 8 days. All duties, costs and tariffs included in our fee. Your customer pays nothing on arrival.
Destination | 5 kg box | 10 kg box | Duty and tax |
|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 2,366 THB | 3,974 THB | Included |
Metro Manila, Philippines | 1,181 THB | 2,163 THB | Included |
United Arab Emirates | 2,170 THB | 4,050 THB | Included |
Zone 41, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea | 7,295 THB | 13,027 THB | Not included, paid by the receiver on arrival |
Source: Dragon Courier price list of 3 August 2026; UAE rate card of 27 April 2026.
We charge based on weight and dimensions, no hidden fees. For boxes over 30 kg please call our office first. Insurance is required on every shipment, it covers loss not damage. Please pack fragile items carefully. Brake discs, lights and glass need extra care in packaging.
Batteries are not allowed to any country. Control unit, starter motor, electric component with integrated cell: we will check before packing. Mechanical part with no cell: not affected. Please give us the part name, part number, new or used, destination before booking. We will confirm what can fly. We recommend buyer check fitment and compatibility with own vehicle before purchase. Some accessories may not be suitable for some markets. Please contact our team for full details.
Guides for the USA: shipping car parts from Thailand to the USA, used car parts from Thailand to the USA, selling car parts on eBay and Etsy
About Dragon Courier
Dragon Courier is a Bangkok courier, family owned. We have been in business for more than 30 years and send more than 20,000 packages a month to more than 200 destinations. We only send by air and clear customs ourselves. For the main markets our prices include duties and taxes.
Contacts and drop-off
We need the weight and dimensions of the box to give an accurate quote. Please message Justin on LINE or WhatsApp +66 6-5937-0812 or email info@dragoncourier.com.
You can drop off until 5pm Monday to Saturday, our Bangkok office is on Sukhumvit Soi 4 (217/3 Crystal Garden Building, 3rd floor, Klongtoey 10110). For pickup please provide a date and time that suits.
Why do so many Hilux and D-Max parts come from Thailand?
Thailand is the export base for both pickups. Toyota chose Thailand in 2002 for their IMV (International Multi-purpose Vehicle) program, starting with the Hilux. Toyota moved production of 2,000 parts from Japan to Thai suppliers. Isuzu moved all export pickup production to Thailand the same year. Isuzu calls the Thai plant the mother plant of its pickups.
Will a Hilux or D-Max part from Thailand fit my truck?
Not automatically. For your Hilux or D-Max it is best to get the part from the same country as your truck was built in. The vehicles may have small changes depending on the market. Always refer to the vehicle makers catalogue or ask a local dealer for compatibility before purchasing. Some markets have different generations of trucks.
Do brake pads from Thailand need asbestos proof for Australia?
Australia allows zero percent asbestos in all parts, including brake pads and shoes, clutches and gaskets. A letter from the supplier is not enough: the Australian Border Force wants technical evidence from the manufacturer. Australian Border Force may test at the importer's expense. Parts found to contain asbestos will be seized.
Can I ship an airbag or a battery with car parts from Thailand?
Dragon Courier does not carry batteries to any country. Airbag modules, aerosols, paint and parts with fuel residue are considered dangerous goods on the flight. Spare parts containing airbags are an example IATA gives. Please tell our team what is in the box before booking, we check each item before packing.
How much does a 5 kg box of parts cost from Bangkok to Australia?
On the price list of 3 August 2026, Bangkok to Australia is 2,366 THB per 5 kg box. For a 10 kg box the price is 3,974 THB. Price includes all customs costs and 5 to 8 days delivery. A 5 kg box to Metro Manila is 1,181 THB. Over 30 kg per box, call the office first.
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