Toyota to Establish New R&D Facility in India by 2027
Toyota plans to open a new R&D center in India by 2027, aiming to boost local employment and cater to global automotive needs. The facility, located in Bengaluru, will generate thousands of jobs and focus on electric vehicle development, leveraging a partnership with Suzuki. This initiative positions India as a significant hub for Toyota’s operations.
Toyota is set to enhance the Indian automotive landscape by establishing a new Research and Development (R&D) facility by 2027. This initiative will be managed through its Indian subsidiary, which has been active for over 25 years. According to Bloomberg, the R&D center will be located in Bengaluru, adjacent to Toyota’s manufacturing site in Bidadi, marking Toyota’s third such facility in the Asia-Pacific region, after Thailand and China.
The new facility is projected to create 2,000 jobs initially and expand to include an additional 3,000 engineers within two years. The primary focus of the R&D center will be to serve the Indian market, with future plans to cater to the global automotive industry. This development has the potential to position India as a key hub for Toyota’s R&D and manufacturing activities, particularly targeting regions like the Middle East, East Asia, and Oceania.
Toyota is also examining Suzuki’s R&D operations in Rohtak, one of India’s largest automotive engineering hubs, employing about 3,000 people. The collaboration between Toyota and Suzuki has proven fruitful; they share platforms and parts for various models, such as the Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder and Maruti Grand Vitara. Their partnership is further solidified by Toyota’s 5.4% stake in Suzuki.
In conjunction with these efforts, Toyota aims to optimize R&D and product development for electric vehicles in India. Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch the e Vitara, its first electric vehicle in India, soon. In parallel, Toyota has introduced the Urban Cruiser EV, its own version of the e Vitara, which will be manufactured at Suzuki’s Gujarat plant and exported to international markets.
Toyota’s establishment of a new R&D facility in India signals significant growth for the country’s automotive sector. With a focus on local and international markets, coupled with the collaboration with Suzuki, Toyota is set to strengthen its position in EV development and enhance employment opportunities in the region. This strategic move underscores the potential of India as a hub for innovation and manufacturing in the automotive industry.
Original Source: www.financialexpress.com
