Further to formalising an MOU towards a partnership in February last year, and revealing plans to share models in India earlier this March, Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation today announced more details of their partnership.
To begin with, Toyota will build Suzuki cars at its plant and will be put on sale through each of their networks. This arrangement will suit both sides as Toyota’s line that produces the Etios, Liva, Yaris, Corolla Altis, and Camry Hybrid is utilised to only about 30 percent of its 2,10,000 production capacity, whereas Maruti's plants are running full.
The other big announcement is that Suzuki will be developing what they are terming as an ‘ultra-high-efficiency’ powertrain, with technological support from Toyota and Denso Corporation. The engine will be a new family and be available in both a petrol and a hybrid setup, and, in a company statement, Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki described it as vital to Suzuki.
The release also stated that the Suzuki models would be exported from India to Africa and other markets and be sold through both Toyota’s and Suzuki respective outlets, thus extending the cross-sharing arrangement globally.