Toyota and Daihatsu developing new ‘emerging market’ compact car
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 liter 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 GM’s American Cobalt and Korean Optra are basically in the same segment and have been replaced by a single model – the Cruze.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.
October 19, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Cool
October 19, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
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”.
October 19, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
can’t wait for it…yay…
October 19, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Time for P2 to make a sedan… wakakaka…
October 19, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
emerging what?
emerging super duper profit with selling junk car?
October 19, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
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…
October 19, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
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.
October 19, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
customisation and standardisation.
glocalisation and localisation.
seems like while others are heading for global, toyota prefers to tailor offerings to each countries.
October 19, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
in other word………….built rubbish 4 profit, sent to malaysia, cover the lost. malaysian for sure will worship t badge
October 19, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
…….and malaysian will buy…even they put the price near 100k
October 20, 2009 @ 8:52 am
as long as it is with the toyota logo on it…
October 20, 2009 @ 11:40 am
Toyota tailor-made cars? big and reasonably cheap – think Dacia Logan from Renault!!!
October 21, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
It will be a great car.