Toyota has announced to set up its 3rd production plant in Bidadi Karnataka. The new production facility will be operational by 2026. It is expected that the Toyota 340D 7-seater SUV based on the Corolla Cross SUV will be produced at this production facility. The new facility will add another 1 lakh vehicles to the brand’s total production capacity. If reports are to be believed, Toyota will also introduce the new IMV 0 ladder-frame platform to produce affordable vehicles including the Toyota Fortuner in India.
For people not in the know, Toyota had showcased the new IMV 0 ladder-frame platform at the Japan Mobility Show. It is basically a low-cost version of the IMV platform that underpins the Innova Crysta and Fortuner. The platform will be used to produce affordable alternatives of vehicles including the Hilux pickup truck and Toyota Fortuner SUV.
At the Japan Mobility Show, Toyota said that the IMV 0 concept is designed & developed to showcase a product targeting consumers who don’t need or want EVs. The concept is a single-cab chassis that has a modular design. The architecture is compatible enough to accommodate different body styles including an SUV and a pick-up truck.
The Japanese automaker has used the IMV platform as the base for IMV O and will use low cost lighter materials and smart use of equipment & features, which will help Toyota to achieve affordability. In fact, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific president, Quoc Tien said that IMV O platform based vehicles will mainly target ASEAN region. He further hinted towards an SUV body style on the IMV O platform. An affordable version of the Fortuner SUV could be based on the new affordable platform.
The affordable version of the Toyota Fortuner could come with lesser features and a smaller 2.4-litre diesel engine from the Innova Crysta. This IMV O platform is also compatible with a strong hybrid option, and the next Fortuner could also receive a more powerful version of the 2.0-litre hybrid engine.
Toyota confirms that the first pick-up based on the IMV O platform will be launched in the ASEAN region by 2025. This pick-up could come as an affordable alternative to the Hilux pick-up. The same model could also be introduced in our market.
Source – AutoCarIndia
