Major investment from Toyota to India: Corolla to be reshaped with three new factories
Japan-based automotive leader Toyota is moving its Corolla model to India with a major investment that will increase production capacity.
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Toyota is preparing to strengthen the production of its world-renowned Corolla model in the coming years with three new assembly plants it will build in India. Through this investment, the company aims to offer more vehicles to both local consumers and emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa. As part of the project, the total production power in India will increase significantly with the factories to be established in the state of Maharashtra, in addition to existing facilities.
A significant innovation in the company's strategy is the new model with a three-row SUV body that will be added to the Corolla series. This model will particularly appeal to the Indian, Middle Eastern, and African markets, where large families are common. The seven-seater new version is planned to roll off the assembly line alongside the sedan and other classic Corolla body types.
Toyota's production move in India primarily aims to respond to the rising automotive demand in the region. However, the company also plans to make the new factories a hub for international exports, not just for India. Thus, the goal is to reduce dependence on the US and Chinese markets in Toyota's global growth targets and transform India into a new focus for development.
While the first factory is expected to be commissioned in 2029, two additional facilities are expected to become operational in the 2030s. The company's total number of factories will reach six with these investments. While the new facilities in Maharashtra will focus on exports, Toyota's three existing factories in the south will continue their production, which is weighted toward the domestic market.
Company officials stated that an investment of approximately 300 billion yen, or 1.9 billion dollars, is planned for these three new factories. It was reported that the new production lines will not be limited to classic internal combustion engine vehicles, but that plug-in hybrid models will also be produced there.
Having maintained its presence in the automotive world since 1966, the Corolla has managed to reach large audiences with many body options such as sedan, hatchback, and station wagon to date. By adapting the Corolla to new-generation demands with a three-row SUV body, the brand aims to continue the model's legacy and further increase its influence in the large-family market.
Toyota's large-scale investment in India will ignite a new era of competition in the automotive sector while ensuring that the legend of the Corolla spreads to much wider geographies.