Mumbai: Faced with huge delivery backlogs on models such as Innova Hycross MPV and Fortuner SUV, Japanese carmaker Toyota has “apologised” to its customers for delays and has said that it is working to improve the situation.
Some of the company’s popular models and their variants are carrying waiting backlogs of over a year and this has been a constant source of concern for the customers who also find the whole purchase bitter as prices of the booked cars go up by the time they get deliveries.
“This is very unfortunate for us that there are quite significant customer numbers that are on waiting, which is quite painful… I apologise to the customers for this one,” Tadashi Asazuma, deputy MD for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Lexus brand, told TOI here on Wednesday after launching mini SUV Urban Cruiser Taisor, which is a twin of Maruti’s Fronx.
Asazuma said the company has been working to improve the situation. “We are not sleeping. Our factory is working three shifts for six days in a week and producing for 24 hours. We will continue to work as much as possible for (making) earlier customer deliveries.”
Toyota, which has been sharing products and models with Maruti Suzuki in India as part of a broader partnership between the two Japanese companies, has not been able to scale up supplies in line with the orders that it is getting. In Nov last year, the company had announced plans for a fresh Rs 3,300 crore investment towards a new plant at its existing factory in Bangalore. But production from there will begin only in 2026.
The company currently has a capacity to produce over 3.4 lakh units, which it is using to produce self-badged cars and also the Suzuki cross-badged ones such as Invicto (Hycross twin) and Grand Vitara (Hyryder twin).
The Taisor comes strapped with two petrol engine options (1-litre turbo and a 1.2-litre) and is priced between Rs 7.7 lakh and Rs 13 lakh (ex-showroom).
Asazuma said the car market may see moderation in growth in 2024 after witnessing strong demand during the post-Covid period. “The pent-up demand has been met.”
Asked about plans for electric vehicles, he said the company is working towards them, though it will continue to have a big focus on hybrids.
On exports from India, he said the company has started to ship vehicles to the Middle East and Africa. “There is an opportunity to grow, and we will take this up gradually.”
Some of the company’s popular models and their variants are carrying waiting backlogs of over a year and this has been a constant source of concern for the customers who also find the whole purchase bitter as prices of the booked cars go up by the time they get deliveries.
“This is very unfortunate for us that there are quite significant customer numbers that are on waiting, which is quite painful… I apologise to the customers for this one,” Tadashi Asazuma, deputy MD for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Lexus brand, told TOI here on Wednesday after launching mini SUV Urban Cruiser Taisor, which is a twin of Maruti’s Fronx.
Asazuma said the company has been working to improve the situation. “We are not sleeping. Our factory is working three shifts for six days in a week and producing for 24 hours. We will continue to work as much as possible for (making) earlier customer deliveries.”
Toyota, which has been sharing products and models with Maruti Suzuki in India as part of a broader partnership between the two Japanese companies, has not been able to scale up supplies in line with the orders that it is getting. In Nov last year, the company had announced plans for a fresh Rs 3,300 crore investment towards a new plant at its existing factory in Bangalore. But production from there will begin only in 2026.
The company currently has a capacity to produce over 3.4 lakh units, which it is using to produce self-badged cars and also the Suzuki cross-badged ones such as Invicto (Hycross twin) and Grand Vitara (Hyryder twin).
The Taisor comes strapped with two petrol engine options (1-litre turbo and a 1.2-litre) and is priced between Rs 7.7 lakh and Rs 13 lakh (ex-showroom).
Asazuma said the car market may see moderation in growth in 2024 after witnessing strong demand during the post-Covid period. “The pent-up demand has been met.”
Asked about plans for electric vehicles, he said the company is working towards them, though it will continue to have a big focus on hybrids.
On exports from India, he said the company has started to ship vehicles to the Middle East and Africa. “There is an opportunity to grow, and we will take this up gradually.”