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Toyota, Suzuki Expand Partnership for India, Europe
Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. have agreed to further their cooperative efforts with new initiatives to share compact cars and electrified vehicles in Europe and India.
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Toyota Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. have agreed to further their cooperative efforts with new initiatives to share compact car models and electrified vehicles in Europe and India.
The Japanese carmakers have been exploring potential partnerships for several years. In 2017, Suzuki and Toyota agreed to make and sell EVs in India by 2020.
The updated plans call for Toyota to supply its hybrid powertrain technology to Suzuki for unspecified global applications. Toyota also aims to develop local sources in India for hybrid powertrains and batteries.
In Europe, Toyota will produce rebadged hybrid versions of its RAV4 crossover and Corolla Wagon for Suzuki. The vehicles will be built at Toyota’s plant in Burnaston, England, beginning late next year. The engines will be assembled at the carmaker’s Deeside factory in Wales.
In return, Suzuki will supply two compact models—based on its Ciaz small sedan and Ertiga mini-MPV—to Toyota for sale in India. Toyota also will get rebadged versions of those vehicles, plus Suzuki’s Baleno five-door hatch and Vitara Brezza small crossover models, for sale in Africa. Suzuki assembles all those models in India.
The partners also plan to co-develop a C-segment SUV for Toyota in India. Finally, Toyota’s Kirloskar Motor unit in India will launch production of the Vitara Brezza-derived model in 2022.