This week weve been besieged by news images of men jam-packed into truck beds holding military assault weapons.
Their manufacturer of choice is Toyota.
Militias have long used Toyota pickup trucks as a vehicle of war, especially in the Middle East.
The trucks are lightweight, agile, fuel-efficient, and well suited to the local terrain.
In 2013 Kyle Mizokami noted:
you could buy 266 of them for the cost of just one tank.
Plus, its more dependable than a tankand easier to maintain.
Toyotas are not only a war vehicle in Afghanistan.Somali warlords use them in Somalia.
Humanitarian aid officials have even purchased the vehicles from terrorists to ensure that aid reached its destination.
Hack your Toyotatruck
40% off TNW Conference!
Infrared headlamps replace standard headlights.
These hacked vehicles are known astechnicalsand can also be used by terrorists and the militias.
Some vehicles even receivedBlue Force Trackers, the U.S. Armys digital position-reporting system.
Whatcha doing about it, Toyota?
In 2015ABC news reportedU.S.
However, it is impossible to track stolen vehicles and those bought and sold on by middlemen.
The truck is the companys longest-running model and went on sale this month.
Trucks are not the only popular Toyota in the Middle East.
One article claims thatabout 90% of the cars registered in Afghanistanare Toyota Corollas.
They offer good mileage and it is easy for locals to access new parts.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
