Nikkei reports that Toyota and Daihatsu are working on a new small car that can be sold for less than US$11,000 (RM37,268) in emerging economies like India and Brazil. I’m really not sure what the big fuss is considering we have the baseline Perodua Viva BX sold here for RM25,300, but perhaps this new car will be something bigger yet cheaper. The cheapest Perodua Myvi here is the 1.0 litre SR at RM38,924.10.
This new car will be designed for developing country export markets. Right now, Toyota’s Daihatsu-sourced compact cars have been mostly export versions of its Japanese market cars with more Westernised names. For example, the Japanese market Daihatsu Coo is called the Materia in some other markets.
Toyota’s new president Akio Toyoda’s vision is for Toyota to start tailor-making products for individual regions rather than just offering the same vehicle line-up across the world market. This goes the other direction compared to the World Car projects that other automakers are embarking on. GM’s American Cobalt and Korean Optra are basically in the same segment and have been replaced by a single model – the Cruze.
But if Toyota can tailor-make different products for cheap, they may do better in terms of sales. I have a feeling making small cars for developing countries and selling them at the same price as their existing Japan market small cars have more to do with boosting profit margins rather than anything else, as customers in those regions do not really expect the kind of refinement that JDM customers do.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Cool
I think it will be gonna a new sedan. We will see the Perodua's too because our car market still can be considered "emerging economies".
can't wait for it…yay…
Time for P2 to make a sedan… wakakaka…
emerging what?
emerging super duper profit with selling junk car?
Toyota wanna enter India and Brazil with cheap car? Let's see what they can get to compete with the Hyundai in India and Volkswagen in Brazil…
Our small National car on tin cans will also assemble this model? Of course it will come with a new bumper and logo. Let's see if can come anything close to the price of Tata Nano since it's got many parts from Toyota's parts bin.
customisation and standardisation.
glocalisation and localisation.
seems like while others are heading for global, toyota prefers to tailor offerings to each countries.
in other word………….built rubbish 4 profit, sent to malaysia, cover the lost. malaysian for sure will worship t badge
…….and malaysian will buy…even they put the price near 100k
as long as it is with the toyota logo on it…
Toyota tailor-made cars? big and reasonably cheap – think Dacia Logan from Renault!!!
It will be a great car.
This is not going to be happen in just one night! It will took years and I hope by the time they produce these cars, they are still manage to keep in tab with the markets.