According to Atty. Rommel R. Gutierrez, assistant vice president of TMPC’s Management Services Office and Corporate Planning Group, Toyota has been trying to discourage the use of its high-end Altis and Vios models as taxicabs.
However, acknowledging that there is a demand for a vehicle to service the taxi-riding market, TMPC, Gutierrez said, is seriously studying the possibility of coming up with a commercial version of the still to be introduced Avanza.
TMPC spokesman Ariel de Jesus admitted that TMPC has been discouraging the conversion of its Altis and Vios models into taxis by voiding their warranties if the vehicles are converted into commercial taxicabs.
Toyota, De Jesus said, does not want to erode the value of its Altis and Vios models by allowing them to be used as taxis.
However, Toyota, De Jesus confirmed, acknowledges the demand for a vehicle to replace the Revo which is being used as a commuter vehicle.
Toyota, De Jesus said, is also discouraging the use of the Innova model as a commercial vehicle.
As such, Toyota is more amenable to allowing the use of the Avanza as a taxi.
The Avanza, which will be imported from Indonesia, is a smaller version of the Innova.
The still-to-be-introduced Avanza can also seat up to eight passengers.
In a related development, Toyota said it will start assembling its popular Vios model in the country next year as it discontinues the manufacture of the Altis model.
According to TMPC spokesman Ariel de Jesus, TMPC has decided to assemble the more economical Vios model in the country along with the current bestseller Innova model.
At present, TMPC locally assembles the Camry, the Innova and Altis models.
TMPC last year assembled locally 829 units of the premium Camry sedan, 4,121 units of the Altis sedan and 12,876 units of the Innova.
TMPC imports the Fortuner, Hilux pick-up, RAV-4 sports utility vehicle and Vios models as completely-built-up units.
TMPC is expected to put in additional investments for the assembly of the Vios.
TMPC would then just import the Altis model from Thailand which has a much bigger market for the sedan.
Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. manufactures the Camry, Altis and Vios models in its Gateway facility, while its other facility assembles the Hilux pick-up and Fortuner model at its Samrong facility.
However, Toyota Thailand is projecting an enviable production this year of 460,000 units.
TMPC’s production, in comparison, pales at around 25,000 annually, although its Sta. Rosa plant has a 50,000 unit capacity.