Toyota and Suzuki are jointly developing a C-segment MPV taking Maruti Suzuki’s expertise in locally producing vehicles
Toyota and Suzuki have reiterated their partnership by announcing a number of new developments primarily dealing with electrification, hybridisation and car sharing. Maruti Suzuki will be supplying Baleno, Vitara Brezza, Ciaz and Ertiga to Toyota and they will be rebadged before entering the latter’s showrooms in the coming year.
Moreover, Toyota will source the four vehicles from Maruti Suzuki and export the rebadged versions to African countries as well. The collaborative business plans announced yesterday emphasise on Indian, European, African and other markets. An interesting point to be noted comes from the realms of technological development and production by leveraging the strengths of each other.
It has been mentioned that a Toyota C-segment MPV will be jointly developed with Suzuki by taking advantage of the latter’s expertise in producing vehicles in India. The MPV will also be supplied to Suzuki and in all probabilities, it will likely be positioned above the Ertiga. The move is logical considering that Toyota’s best-seller in India, the Innova Crysta, is an MPV.
We can expect the Toyota badged version to be slotted below the Innova Crysta and since the brand is sourcing Ertiga as well for the Indian market, a price of Rs. 12 lakh to Rs. 16 lakh (ex-showroom) can be expected for the C-segment MPV. Toyota sells a smaller MPV abroad named Calya but it could be deemed too compact for the domestic customers.
Toyota has positioned itself as a premium carmaker in India over the years and its trusted brand value and loyal set of audience have helped the cause. The C-segment is generating increased volumes in recent times and the arrival of a sedan and an MPV in that category will catapult its sales fortunes.
In a similar fashion, the Suzuki badged C-segment SUV will come in handy to expand the largest automaker in the country’s premium portfolio. Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch a brand new SUV that will sit above the Vitara Brezza next year while a C-MPV will only strengthen its aspirations up top.
The MPV could be offered with seven- and eight-seat options for good level of practicality. As far as rivals are concerned, the top-end Mahindra Marazzo and Tata Hexa are likely targets if it is placed in a price range we reckon it would be. Toyota and Suzuki will make their partnership mutually beneficial without compromising the competitiveness against one another.