Edward Niedermeyer, Columnist

Terrorists' Love of Toyotas Is No Mystery

Investigating how Islamic State gets rugged Hilux pickup trucks is a waste of time.

October 9, 2015 at 3:36 PM UTC

Edward Niedermeyer, an auto-industry analyst, is the co-founder of Daily Kanban and the former editor of the blog The Truth About Cars.

Iraqi troops traveling in style.
Source: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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Every time an insurgency threatens U.S. interests in the Middle East, a familiar question always seems to follow: Where do they get their Toyota pickup trucks?

Since the mid-1970s, from Saharan Africa to Central Asia, "technicals" -- light pickup trucks with heavy weaponry mounted in the bed -- have been a game-changer for irregular forces. And just as insurgents display a consistent preference for Russian AK-type assault rifles, their brand of choice for technicals is the similarly-rugged Toyota Hilux pickup. With Islamic State becoming the latest group to display an affinity for the Hilux, U.S. officials want to know: Why do terrorists love Toyotas, and how are they getting them?