Tokyo: Toyota Motor Corp is developing a new low-cost car to attack fast-growing markets such as China and Southeast Asia, targeting a 2012 launch and a price under 1 million yen ($11,520, or Rs 5.35 lakh), Japan's Chunichi Shimbun newspaper reported.
The compact car will be based on its Vios and Vitz/Yaris subcompact models, and Toyota is aiming to slash production costs by 30-40 percent by procuring more parts locally, the paper said.
Toyota's minivehicle unit, Daihatsu Motor Co, is also developing a small car for Southeast Asia, and may sell them under the Toyota brand, the Chunichi said.
With those two models and a new set of entry-level cars that Toyota has announced for India, Brazil and China, Toyota will have a three-layered approach to grab more sales in emerging markets, the paper said.
Toyota declined to confirm any part of the report.
Toyota is the world's biggest automaker but has a relatively small presence in India, Brazil and other emerging markets, limiting its sales growth compared with well-represented brands such as Volkswagen and Hyundai Motor Co.
Toyota's new entry-level car for India, called Etios, is due to hit the market at the end of this year.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 10:43