tToyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced that Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts Pvt. Ltd. (TKAP) – a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan (TMC), Toyota Industries Corporation, Japan (TICO) and Kirloskar Systems Limited, Bangalore, held a ceremony to officially announce the inauguration of TKAP engine and transmission plant for Etios mid-size sedan. The ceremony was held at its current plant at Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bangalore.
Shri. Murugesh R. Nirani, Hon’ble Minister Medium & Large Industries, Govt. of Karnataka unveiled the commemorative stone under the august presence of many distinguished guests including Shri. R. V. Deshpande, Former KPCC President, Hon’ble former Minister for Medium & Large Industries along with Mr. Takahiro Iwase, President, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, Thailand, Mr. Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Mr. Shekar Viswanathan, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor & Mr. Yuji Hiraoka, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Auto Part.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, TKM said, “Indian operations play a key role in Toyota’s global strategy and this has been reinforced by the introduction of the Etios series exclusively for the Indian market. Now with the commencement of TKAP’s engine and transmission plant, the localization of gasoline engine and transmission has marked another milestone in the growth of Toyota in India. The local production of the engine and transmissions for Etios raises the localization ratio to over 90%.”
Also addressing the function, Mr. Yuji Hiraoka, Managing Director, TKAP said, “We are very happy to announce the formal commencement of our new Engine and Transmission plant. This project has helped us generate additional employment for more than 500 members at TKAP. It has also additionally created opportunities for indirect employment in our supplier fraternity. TKAP will contribute towards localization thereby getting an opportunity to serve our customers in India better”. The new production comes from investment of approximately Rs. 500 crores with the engine plant being operational since August 2012 and the transmission plant being operational since January 2013. The annual capacity for the engine plant is 1,08,000 units and for the transmission plant is 2,40,000 units.
Production of engines and transmissions for the Etios will further localize parts production.