The Tundra Pie Pro is the newest mobile pizza-making vehicle to hit the road. Pizza Hut and Toyota partnered up to create this innovative vehicle with the goal of being able to serve oven-hot pizza to anyone, anywhere.
The one-of-a-kind, zero emission truck, which houses the mini pizza factory, was unveiled at Toyota’s 2018 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show presentation.
“We are constantly focused on updates and innovations that allow our team members and drivers to better serve our customers, really honing in on delivery and digital ordering,” said Nicolas Burquier, chief operations officer, Pizza Hut, U.S., in a statement. “This is a next-generation solution to support and streamline our delivery business in the future. The Tundra PIE Pro and our partnership with Toyota are only helping accelerate our commitment to the best delivery and customer experience.”
To create the pizza making vehicle, Toyota transformed a truck bed into a pizza kitchen. The Tundra PIE Pro contains a refrigerator, a pair of computer-guided robotic arms, and a portable conveyor oven. The whole vehicle, including “The Kitchen,” is powered by hydrogen.
The pizza-making process takes between 6–7 minutes from start to finish.
This new mobile pizza making station is made specifically for pizza on the go allowing Pizza Hut to tap into markets that were not accessible to the brand before. Pizza Hut is no longer confined to a certain delivery radius “allowing a broader base of customers to have oven-hot Pizza Hut pizza delivered to their doorstep,” Pizza Hut explained in a statement.
“Nothing tastes better than a fresh Pizza Hut pizza straight out of the oven,” said Marianne Radley, chief brand officer, Pizza Hut, in a statement. “The Tundra PIE Pro brings to life our passion for innovation not just on our menu but in digital and delivery in order to provide the best possible customer experience.”
This isn’t the first time Pizza Hut and Toyota have teamed up for a collaboration. Earlier this year, the two companies unveiled another fully autonomous concept vehicle at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Last week, Pizza Hut launched a new $5 Lineup giving customers an even bigger deal when dining at the chain. The chain has had a series of wins contributing to its turnaround over the past year, including becoming the official pizza sponsor for the NFL and introducing a new revamped loyalty rewards system.
“We still believe that Pizza Hut U.S. turnaround will be a slow build, but we’re encouraged by the foundation that’s being put in place and continue to make significant strides to improve the brand’s position,” YUM! Brands CEO Greg Creed said earlier in the year.
Pizza Hut is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings on October 31. Domestic same-store sales were flat for Pizza Hut (down 2 percent internationally). To that point, they were up 2 percent in the U.S. for the year compared to the prior-year period.
