Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
In an exclusive report, Reuters has revealed that Toyota Motor Corp plans to build a third car plant in India, expanding production capacity in the country for the first time in over a decade as its partnership with Suzuki Motor Corp boosts domestic volumes.
The world's biggest car maker wants the plant to start with a capacity of 80 000-120 000 vehicles a year, which could grow to around 200 000 over time, said one of the people who has direct knowledge of the plans.
The plant's proposed initial capacity will expand Toyota's existing manufacturing capacity in India by as much as 30% from 400 000 units currently.
Toyota has also begun the development of a new sport utility vehicle (SUV) for the Indian market that will be launched in early 2026 and be an anchor product for the new factory, said the person and a third source briefed on the company's plans.
The sources for the exclusive report declined to be identified as the automaker has not disclosed the expansion plans.
A representative for Toyota's India unit declined to comment.
Toyota's India sales have soared owing to a global partnership with Suzuki under which the two Japanese car makers take some vehicles originally developed by their partner and then tweak and sell them under their own brands to complete their product line-up.
Cars originally from Maruti Suzuki's stable such as the Glanza hatchback and Urban Cruiser Hyryder SUV now account for 40% of Toyota's India sales.
About two-thirds of Toyota's current production capacity is used by Maruti Suzuki to build vehicles for both car makers as part of their partnership.
Toyota, known for its Fortuner SUV and Camry hybrid in India, told Reuters earlier in September that it expected record domestic sales in 2023.
The Japanese car maker is now aiming to have production capacity of 500 000 vehicles a year before the end of the decade, including the car models that it will supply to Suzuki, said two of the sources.
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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