Indian subsidiary of the Japanese car major, Toyota India is pacing up to initiate the manufacturing at its powertrain production plant in Bengaluru. According to a company official, the assembly of the engines is slated to begin in August 2012. Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), Shekhar Viswanathan, said, “The manufacturing will start from next month.”
The auto maker has set a production itinerary of one lac passenger car powertrains as well as 2.4 lac transmission units for its Bengaluru plant. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) happens to be a strategic alliance between the Japanese Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar Systems, Bengaluru.
In order to increase its manufacturing capacity in the country, the car maker announced back in 2011 that it will surge the production of its transmission units. The move is primarily aimed at reaming parallel with the demands of its Etios sedan and Liva hatchback, which are exported to the South African region. The attempt forced the Japanese car maker to employ a whooping investment of Rs. 500 crore.
Commenting on the exports of the Liva and Etios, Viswanathan stated that Toyota has already shipped 1,500 units to the South Africa. He further added, “We have commenced exports to South Africa from Ennore Port (near Chennai).”
The Deputy MD of the company was in Chennai to be a part of the National conference and the Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC), organised by the ASSOCHAM along with Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Looking back on the Automotive Mission Plan, declared in 2006, which was proposed to be incorporated in the CBIC, Viswanathan stated that the access route to the ports need to be enhanced. He commented, “India is becoming the base for export of small cars and that is something we must foster. What I would like to emphasise is this plan needs to be enmeshed with the various corridors that are being proposed. We do need excellent Port access for our exports.”
The car maker observed that after starting their exports to the South African market from the port of Ennore, they had to go through a lot of procedure to improve the facilities around the port and thus, need for an improved access.
