Toyota Intensifies Exports. From India
While the discussion about the value of the yen continues (also at TTAC), the exodus from Japan is picking up steam. Toyota is joining other carmakers that quietly turn India into a car export nation to be reckoned with. Toyota’s Chief Engineer Yoshinori Noritake (above) soon will be able to smile: Toyota’s subsidiary in India will export Toyota’s and Noritake’s “BRIC car”, the Etios, to South Africa in March 2012.
According to a statement, “the models for export will be based on the Etios platform currently sold in India, but will be developed and produced to fit the lifestyles, consumer preferences, climate, road conditions and usage considerations in South Africa.” Both the original Etios and the Etios Liva hatchback will go to South Africa.
Toyota will nearly double its current Indian capacity of 160,000 vehicles to 310,000 vehicles in 2013, and is committed “to developing India into a global production and supply base for vehicles and transmissions.”
Exports from India are up strongly. While total production in India rose 16 percent from April to August 2011, automobile exports were up 31 percent in the same period.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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But what about quality? or does that matter anymore?
It'd be interesting to see what kind of capacity is currently online and being built in India. Just about all the major global players have been building factories, adding capacity in chunks of 100K, 200K and more cars.