Toyota is moving its ASEAN production hub for the Toyota Fortuner from its Thailand plant to its Indonesian plant in Cikarang, a move that will increase the Cikarang plant’s production to between 90,000 to 100,000 annually from the current 60,000 to 70,000 cars.
The relocation is expected to happen sometime in July or August this year. This will certainly change the country source of the Toyota Fortuner sold here in Malaysia. According to PT Toyota Astra Motor’s Jhonny Darmawan, the Fortuner was originally built in Indonesia, but it was moved to the Thai production lines for efficiency and market considerations as apparently the Thai plants were more ‘export friendly’ – perhaps in terms of logistics?
Apparently there is less export demand for the Fortuner in this region right now, so it’s better for the Fortuner to be built in Indonesia instead. But the real reason could be that the Fortuner is built in Thailand along with the Hilux Vigo at the company’s Bangkok plant, which is one of the four plants that Toyota has in Thailand. And Toyota decided to shut down that 50,000 vehicle a year plant a few weeks ago, transferring its 960 workers to its three other plants. Toyota has yet to decide what to do with the Bangkok plant.
Looks like Thailand’s plight is Indonesia’s pleasure, and more money in the bank for Astra!
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.
current fortuner is CKD, will UMW bring in fortuner from indon? fortuner is one hardly popular vehicle, i believe more used by government agencies rather than private buyers..
the way i see it malaysians will choose either CRV or sorento as the best buy SUV.
The Fortuner is quite dissappointing in terms of ride quality and fuel consumption even though it’s from T. If not, I’d would have bought it long ago!
toyota should have brought in the 3.0L version instead of the 2.5L 102ps engine. most bought Harrier over this model as both are priced similarly.
Sucks spec for Fortuner… Look at the combi meter… Where is the Shift indicator for vehicle worth more than RM150k?