Toyota, Suzuki expand scope of partnership in India

Japanese auto majors Toyota and Suzuki today announced expanding scope of their collaboration, including plans for Toyota Kirloskar Motor to manufacture models developed by Suzuki for sale in India through their respective brand networks.

Moreover, the two firms are looking at cooperation in exports of models developed by Suzuki, including those produced by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) -- the Indian arm of Toyota, from India to Africa and other markets through their respective global sales networks, the two companies said in a joint statement.

Besides, Toyota and Suzuki which had in March concluded a basic agreement for supplying hybrid and other vehicles to each other for the Indian market, will also discuss Toyota and Denso Corporation providing technological support for a compact, ultrahigh-efficiency powertrain to be developed by Suzuki.

"Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) have agreed today to start discussing new joint projects in the fields of technological development, vehicle production, and market development," the statement said.

The two companies have also been broadening the scope of their partnership considerations to include joint efforts related to production and market development, it added.

The discussion topics include "TKM to produce models developed by Suzuki for sale in India through each of the Toyota and Suzuki brand network", it said.

The discussions also cover "supply of models developed by Suzuki, including those to be produced by TKM from India to African and other markets by Toyota and Suzuki, employing each of the Toyota and Suzuki sales networks to sell such vehicles, and advancing cooperation in the domains of logistics and services".

Commenting on the development, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said, "As members of Indian society, Toyota, along with Suzuki, will do its best to enhance freedom and fun in a future society of mobility and to make 'Make in India' vehicles cherished in Africa and in many other countries around the world."