The Hindu Business Line : Toyota-Kirloskar may launch new vehicle

In another development, the car major, which was hit by labour problems a few years ago, has resolved most of the issues ahead of the small car project.

Code-named NVX, the multi-purpose vehicle, will have the same engine as that of Innova but will have different features, sources close to the company told Business Line. But the Deputy Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar, Mr K.K. Swamy, said he was not aware of any such plan.

The platform on which Innova is built can be used to manufacture several variants of the multi-purpose vehicle as well as vehicles such as pick-up trucks. Sources said that the company has started shooting television commercials for the vehicle.

Toyota-Kirloskar has a capacity to produce 60,000 cars annually and once the new plant to produce small cars is set up, Toyota plans to use the existing capacity to build only multi-purpose vehicles as the production of Corolla will be shifted to the new plant.

Since its launch in 2005, Innova has sold a total of 1,32,000 units. The company has announced that it will build a second plant to produce small cars. The total capacity of the new plant is around one lakh units a year, and the company has committed an investment of about Rs 1,400 crore.

Toyota-Kirloskar launched its first multi purpose vehicle, Qualis in 2000, which was phased out in 2005. Toyota is generally known to phase out vehicles every five years as was the case with Qualis. In the case of Corolla which was launched in 2003, its new model will be launched later this year.

Settle labour dispute

In another development, the management of Toyota-Kirloskar is learnt to have arrived at a settlement with some of the workers who were involved in labour dispute. Around 28 workers who were involved in the dispute left the company after arriving at a monetary settlement with the management while some others are holding negotiations, an official with the Toyota-Kirloskar Motor Union said.

The union has over 1,300 workers as members, the official said. Company officials were not available for comments. The labour dispute had led to a lock out in the factory in Bidadi for some time.

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