Toyota Fortuner, Innova Production To Start Today

Due to the relaxing of lockdown guided by the Government of India, auto manufacturing plants in India have been permitted to resume production in some certain areas. Maruti Suzuki has reopened its Manesar facility since May 12 while Hyundai has resumed the operation of its Chennai manufacturing plant already. In a similar update, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced that production of its plant in Bidadi near Bengaluru will be started from today (May 26, 2020), but in a phased manner.

Production of Toyota Innova Crysta and Fortuner will be started from today.

We all know that the global coronavirus outbreak has led to a massive impact on the automotive business activity. The Indo-Japanese venture, TKM had earlier encountered the shortage of 35 child parts when the pandemic outbreak in India. However, to ensure the health of its employees, the company just plans to produce about 50 per cent of its average production after the lockdown. Along with the production facilities, the auto giant’s 290 dealerships have been partially opened while 230 service centres resume operations too.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor is commencing preventive measures and hygiene practices alongside the production resumption.

Safety is still the top priority of the company at this time. Toyota has introduced a ‘Restart Manual’ to ensure the safety and hygiene practices among its employees, premises, service centres and dealer partners.

“The most critical issue is to take care of the lives of the people and their families. So, from that point of view, we established a very clear manual. Tracking employees from home to transportation to assembly line and the canteen,” said Raju b Ketkale, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Deputy Managing Director.

TKM has also announced that almost 75 per cent of its suppliers have been permitted to commence production. The remaining ones will get the consent very soon.

Currently, Toyota has two manufacturing plants based out in Bidadi, Karnataka with more than 6,500 workers. The annual production capacity of the plants is at 3.10 Lakh units, in which the Toyota Innova Crysta and Toyota Fortuner for the Indian market and the Etios for the exports market are produced. Do note that the Toyota Glanza is manufactured at Suzuki's Gujarat plant.

In another development, Toyota is gearing up for a new Urban Crusier (Rebadged Vitara Brezza) due to enter the market by September of this year. The compact SUV might be developed on the VXi and ZXi trim of Maruti Vitara Brezza and is expected to sit in the price bracket of around Rs 8.5 – 11.5 Lakh (estimated, ex-showroom).