We’ve already learnt a few weeks back that Toyota & Maruti Suzuki will share cars which will be rebadged and sold by either party. For example, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Swift & Vitara Brezza could be sold as Toyota cars after a mild makeover and name change, while the likes of Corolla Altis could make its way to Maruti Suzuki / Nexa showrooms in similar fashion. Now however, more details have emerged about this deal between the two big Japanese car manufacturers.
It is now revealed that Toyota & Suzuki have started discussing further on how the MOU could benefit both brands. So far, it is being said that the Toyota plant in India will be utilised to build Maruti Suzuki cars. Toyota has a production capacity of 2.1 lakh annually, which is used only 30% to its capacity. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki needs more production bandwidth with all cars selling in big numbers. So instead of making more production lines, Suzuki is going to make use of the production capacity available at the Toyota plant in South India.
The cars built jointly by Toyota & Suzuki will be sold not only in India, but exported to African markets as well.
Also, Suzuki will be developing a new small powertrain together with the help of Toyota & Denso. This will be a mass market engine, but highly advanced and will be available as in hybrid versions as well.
As of now, direct product related details are unknown which cars will be built by Toyota, or which cars will be sold as Toyota models with a different name in the immediate future. Expect the product of this association to be seen on the Indian streets by 2019-20.