Toyota on Wednesday announced the ramp up of its annual production capacity to 2.1-lakh units that would cater to the increase in demand for Innova, Fortuner, Corolla Altis and newly-lauched Etios.
The carmaker recently announced its plans for the introduction of second-shift production in April, reduction in production time per vehicle, production enhancement and postponement of the launch of hatchback Etios Liva from April to June, all reflecting the active measures taken to reduce the waiting period for Etios.
The annual production capacity of the first plant currently manufacturing Innova, Corolla Altis and Fortuner, will be increased from 80,000 units to 90,000 units in the third quarter of 2011, while the capacity of the second plant that currently manufactures Etios will be raised from 70,000 to 1.2-lakh units. The expansion will be carried out in a phased manner starting in July, extending into the second quarter of 2012. The 1.2-lakh units will also include 20,000 units of Corolla Altis, shifted from the first plant to the second plant in the first-half of 2012.
“The demand for Innova and Fortuner has persistently grown in the recent months and consequently the waiting period.
The huge demand for Etios has further provided momentum to expand our production capacity. We will enhance our production capacity to cater to our customers' growing demand,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said in a statement.
According to TKM Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh, “We recently announced our plans to bring down the waiting period for Etios, which included enhancing production and deferring the launch of the hatchback Etios Liva. This production expansion will further our aim to bring down the waiting period.”
