Toyota’s Baleno Based Hatchback To Launch In FY2019-20
Toyota badged Baleno hatchback will carry a new nameplate along with a pack of new features.
In 2017, Toyota and Maruti Suzuki announced a partnership for the Indian market under which both companies will exchange technologies and vehicles. Toyota will get Maruti Suzuki Baleno hatchback and Vitara Brezza compact SUV and the Indo-Japanese carmaker will receive Toyota Corolla Altis. The carmakers will rebody and rebadge the exchanged units of the vehicles and retail them via their dealership network. Read – 4 New Toyota Cars Launching In India
According to PTI, Toyota India will introduce the re-badged version of the Baleno hatchback in the second half of 2019-2020 financial year. The Toyota Baleno will carry a new nameplate along with a pack of new features. Visually, the hatch will look more like the existing model. Though, it will receive minor design changes.
The feature and engine details of the Toyota Baleno hatchback are still under the wraps. There is no clarity about the product positioning as well. Report reveals that the pricing details are currently under discussion.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said that this collaboration will help both companies to expand their product portfolio in the market. The Japanese carmaker also aims to improve component localization for its models and achieve higher cost efficiencies in the domestic market.
Besides sharing the vehicles, Toyota and Suzuki will manually work on vehicle production, technological development and market development. In future, both carmakers might consider a mutual structure for battery powered electric vehicles. Reports suggest that Suzuki will make an investment of $1 billion into the Toyota manufacturing plant in Bidadi, near Bengaluru.
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