Asia Bizz » Toyota

Toyota sued by sacked Australian workers

Anita — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:54:17 +0000

Japan based automaker Toyota was on April 24 dragged to the court by the sacked Australian auto workers. The workers, who were holding health and safety officers post claimed that they were unlawfully for being union stewards.

Some 350 staff workers were laid off by Toyota in the month of January, out of which 12 of them took up the court case. The company had then blamed the unprecedented pressure on the Australian operations due to the strong local currency, which led to job losses across the sector.

Maurice Blackburn, a law firm said there was a “disproportionate number of health and safety representatives and shop stewards” which was made redundant and added that a suit was filed in the Federal court alleging “targeted and unlawful discrimination in the job cuts.” Lawyer Josh Bornstein said that the workers will now seek immediate reinstatement as well as compensation in a hearing.

Toyota while talking about the workers who were sacked, said that the demand failed to recover from the global downturn as the production slipped to 36 percent since the year 2007, when 149,000 cars were made and just 95,000 cars were made in the year 2012.

More Related News

Toyota to assemble Camry in India

Samron Jude — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:29:15 +0000

Asia Bizz: Auto manufacturing giant Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd has plans to assemble its mid class luxury sedan Camry in India. The company revealed that it has chosen its Bangalore factory to assemble the sedan from the month of July, 2012.

The new Camry is expected to be rolled out in India and will be re-launched in the month of August with a revised price tag. Till now, the company was importing about 300 units of Camry very year from Japan and it is the only car in the segment which is completely imported.

Some of the competitors like Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and Honda Accord are all assembled in India. Toyota had to bear a prohibitive effective duty of about 100% for importing a completely built-in unit, which doubled the price of the vehicle; and when it is imported as a completely knocked down condition and assembled in the country, the duty becomes half.

The company is currently investing Rs. 900 crores to expand the capacity of the Bidadi factory; the overall capacity of the factory would go up to 310,000 units by next year. Sandeep Singh, the deputy managing director of sales and marketing said that their plan is to start assembling the car in July and launch it in the month of August. Singh also revealed that it will be priced above Rs. 20 lakh.

More Related News

Toyota to invest Rs.500 crores in Bangalore plant

Anita — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:01:55 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota revealed on April 4, 2012 it is set to invest Rs. 500 crores in its engine plant based in Bangalore this year. Besides shipping its Etios sedan and hatchback to South Africa, the company also revealed its intentions in investments.

Hiroshi Nakagawa, the managing director of Toyota Kisloskar Motor India, flagged off the Etios models to South Africa and said that they are hoping to export 20,000 units this year. Nakagawa told reporters that apart from South Africa, they do not have any plans to export in other markets at present.

In South Africa, the shipped cars will be positioned under the sub B segment. Nakagawa revealed that the entry level car will be priced at 116,000 Rands in the South African market.

Sandeep Singh, the Deputy managing director of Toyota Kirloskar Motors, said that they have set a target of selling 1.80 lakh units against 1.36 lakh set last year. Singh also revealed that the operations at the Bangalore plant would begin this year.

More Related News

Virat Kohli named brand ambassador of Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Nicholas — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:58:05 +0000

Asia Bizz: Popular Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has been recently signed as the brand ambassador of Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM). Kohli will endorse the auto brand as it enters a new phase of growth in the Indian market.

With the help of the wide line up of products, the company aims to bring a smile on the faces of all its customers by designing vehicles that are fun and exciting to drive. Sandeep Singh, the Deputy Managing director of marketing at Toyota Kirloskar, said that were are extremely happy to announce Virat Kohli as their brand ambassador.

Singh added that the Indian cricketer has brought all the emotions that Toyota aims to offer its customers through its vehicles – passion, exuberance energy, fun and excitement. Moreover, Toyota’s journey in India and Virat Kohli’s cricket have similarities. Both have went on to become one of the most promising players in their respective fields. The brand as well as the cricketer represent perfection and continuous improvement.

With the latest vehicles Etios Liva and Etios, the company aims to reach the younger generation. Kohli will feature in campaigns for the brand through various electronic and print communications.

More Related News

Toyota flags off Etios to South Africa

Nicholas — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:40:54 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese- based auto manufacturer Toyota has commenced the shipment of its sedan Etios and hatchback Etios Liva to South Africa on April 4, 2012. The first batch of the cars of the company were exported to South Africa at a function at the Ennore Port.

The cars were exported in the presence of top officials of Toyota and also its Indian partner, Kirloskar. Vikram Kirloskar, the Vice chairman of Toyota Kirloskar said that it is a proud moment for all of them in Toyota Kirloskar Motors as they flag off the first ever Etios export consignment to South Africa.

Kirloskar expressed his as gratitude to all their employees as the company begins a new chapter of business with the start of the exports. There were 247 units in the first batch which were flagged off by Karnataka Home and Transport Minister R Ashoka as well as Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani.

Sandeep Singh, the deputy managing director of Toyota Kirloskar Motors said that they were happy to begin exports to South Africa and have slightly modified the petrol cars for the exports. Singh also said that the African market is one of the big markets for them.

More Related News

Toyota to launch Etios in South Africa

Agatha Vyland — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:46:52 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese auto maker Toyota has recently confirmed that its new entry-level car Etios will be launched in South Africa. The car will be built in India and will be launched on May 21, 2012 in SA.

The Etios will be entering the market in direct competition with other players like Renault’s Sandero and Figo by Ford as the Toyota vehicle will be much affordable than the other cars in the same segment. The Etios has been brought in place of Tazz, which was discontinued six years ago.

The Toyota Etios has been described as the ‘bang up to date’ product as it was specifically designed to meet the needs of the drivers of today’s generation. However, as the new Etios has been built with a limited price, one should not expect it to be sophisticated like that of the Yaris or the earlier model.

The Etios will come with a 1.5 litre engine for the South African market and will have four valves per cylinder, but delivers less power than the 1.3 litre engine the Yaris which lacks variable timing. Overall, the mechanical simplicity of the vehicle is likely to appeal the customers who go for a simple engine with a reasonable output.

More Related News

Auto Expo 2012 – Toyota announces launch of new Prius

Nicholas — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:45:02 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese auto giant, Toyota, has announced the launch of the new variant of its mid sized sedan Prius at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012. The Prius was launched in the global market in the year 1997, when Toyota entered the Indian market through a partnership with the Kirloskar Group.

The new mid sized sedan has been priced between the range of Rs. 27.39 lakhs and Rs. 29.40 lakhs. The company claims that the new compact hybrid sedan has exceptional fuel efficiency as well as powerful driving performance from the original Prius.

Moreover, the company has also introduced a new technology in the form of Solar Ventilation System along with the present battery technology. The new feature ventilates inside the cabin when it is parked with the help of the electricity generated by the solar panel on the moon roof.

Shekar Vishwanathan, the Deputy Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motors at the Auto Expo 2012, said that the introduction of the Prius was the company’s attempt to bring advanced technology to the Indian market with an aim to initiate and encourage the hybrid market in India. Vishwanathan also added that he hopes to see more Prius customers, which will contribute to the growth of the Indian hybrid market which will lead to a greener tomorrow.

More Related News

Toyota Camry earns ‘recommended’ status by Consumer reports

Anita — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:31:11 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese based auto company Toyota has added another feather to it’s cap. The Toypota Camry, from the sedan segment, has won a ‘recommended’ status from the Consumer Reports Magazine. The revamped Camry is already the best selling sedan in the US and has got the status from the magazine which was earlier critical to some of the Japanese automakers models.

The 2012 Camry from Toyota went on sale in the global market in the month of October 2011 and has been evaluated for the February 2012 issue of the magazine which is published by the Yonkers – a New York based Consumer Union.

The review of the sedan stated that the Camry has good interiors with more responsive handling and better fuel economy than before. Historically too, Toyota has scored well in Consumer Reports Review despite the fact when the magazine said that it will scrutinize the brand more closely back in the year 2007, due to the problems found in the Tundra pickup.

In the month of August, the magazine declined to recommend Honda Motor Co’s 2012 Civic, which was a car that was earlier favored. Since then, Honda has said that it is considering revisions to the Civic without elaborating. The Camry has been the best selling car in the US for the past 13 years.

More Related News

Toyota recalls more than 550,000 cars globally to rectify steering defects

Samron Jude — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:50:38 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japanese auto giant Toyota Motors has called for a recall on November 9, 2011, of more than 550,000 vehicles across the world to rectify a common problem. Most of the vehicles have been recalled from the US for some problem related to the crankshaft pulley on the engine.

Due to this problem, the vehicle could become harder to steer for the driver of the car. The sales unit of the US said that if the problem was not corrected, then there are possibilities that the belt from the power steering may come out of the pulley.

The recall from the company will be effecting 137, 000 Lexus vehicles and 283, 200 Toyota Brands in the United States. The recall also includes the 2004 and 2005 Camry, Sienna and Highlander.

Dion Corbett, the spokesman of Toyota, said that some 38,000 cars have been recalled in Japan which also include 25,000 cars in New Zealand and Australia. Corbett also added that till now there have been no accidents reported, but 79 reports about the defect dating back in the year 2007 have been received. The reputation of the car brand has been affected due to the many recalls by the company in the past few years.

More Related News

New vehicle sales at an all time low in Japan this April

Nicholas — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:57:03 +0000

Asia Bizz: Japan has been struck by grave tragedy as a result of the March 2011 tsunami-earthquake. Presently, the Asian country is also facing an all time low of automobile sales and the month of April has seen the lowest record sales of new vehicles in Japan. New vehicles in Japan sold at a record of 1,85,673 units in the month of April 2011.

Two associations in Japan called the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association, have said that the rate at which the sales have reduced is a huge rate; and way back in January 1968, was the last lowest sales with 1,98,693 units sold.

The reason behind the drop in sales is also related to problems of parts faced by automakers. Companies like Toyota, Nissan, Honda have lowered their production of vehicles and some of them were also forced to stop due to the shortage of spares and car parts. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has also faced problems as their not able to meet the export demands specially from the north-American markets.

Experts say that Japan will be able to start full production of cars by the last quarter of the year.