Toyota Aygo Will Be Launched In Thailand?

[ttechguy]

My friend is waiting for Aygo, she is really tempting to buy Nissan March

But there are no news so far, does anybody know Aygo will be launched in Thailand soon?

Before Toyota was scared to launch Aygo in Thailand as Thais like big cars, now Nissan March being crazy, Aygo should be super crazy...

Any real authentic news about Aygo in Thailand?

[MoonRiverOasis]

Toyota applied to take part in the eco-car project back in December 2007, at which time it was rumoured that it was to be based on either the next generation Aygo or Passo. However they 'suspended the project indefinitely' after the GFC - the only news since then is that they will 'consider' reviving the idea again in 2014.

The next options to appear in the segment will be Honda's eco-car late this year, and Mitsubishi's early next year.

Before Toyota was scared to launch Aygo in Thailand

I don't know where you get your market intel from, but if someone's told you that you need a new source..

[katabeachbum]

<BR>Toyota applied to take part in the eco-car project back in December 2007, at which time it was rumoured that it was to be based on either the next generation Aygo or Passo. However they 'suspended the project indefinitely' after the GFC - the only news since then is that they will 'consider' reviving the idea again in 2014.<BR><BR>The next options to appear in the segment will be Honda's eco-car late this year, and Mitsubishi's early next year.<BR><BR>

Before Toyota was scared to launch Aygo in Thailand

<BR><BR>I don't know where you get your market intel from, but if someone's told you that you need a new source.. <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif"><BR>

<BR><BR>

Aygo/Myvi is being manufactord many places already and sold under many branch names, so its hard to reach the production volume in LOS required by BOI. Imported ecocars from Asean countries are dutyfree, but pays 30% excise tax, while LOS made ecocars pay 15%? excisetax.

In addition Toyota believes a LOS ecocar should be 4 door sedan, which they dont have on any shelf, so to be developed.

LOS Toyota plants are running full capacity, and planned investments is to make more IMV1, so a ecocar would need a new plant to be build. Nissan March is sold all over the world, but only manufactored in LOS, China, Mexico and India.

[MoonRiverOasis]

while LOS made ecocars pay 15%? excisetax.

Originally yes, now increased to 22% (upon this change Tata Motors pulled out of the project btw)

[VocalNeal]

Can I have the one in the foreground. Love the concept and the name Ok I know my hair would match the paint and I should be sitting the back doing the crossword but....

[yeong]

There are rumors that Toyota's eco-cars will be based on a modified of Etios - an ugly 4 doors sedan build for Indian market.

[MoonRiverOasis]

There are rumors that Toyota's eco-cars will be based on a modified of Etios - an ugly 4 doors sedan build for Indian market.

Well there's good rumours that get close to the mark, and then there's bad rumours like that one..

Whatever it is, it has to be a car with lots of export potential, as the domestic market is simply never going to be big enough to make the necessary sales mandated by the BOI.

[ttechguy]

Before Toyota was scared to launch Aygo in Thailand

I don't know where you get your market intel from, but if someone's told you that you need a new source..

read this article you know why (and why not ) - Why Toyota should bring Aygo to Thailand

If you have seen in Thailand, pickup trucks are hit and popular, Thai's like it big, most % of Thai never liked small cars, but now, its changing going green (or may be cheap )

Tata has already launched its foot in Thailand with pickups, Tata nano is still under trails in India, not sure if BOI will accept in Thailand I am pretty sure BOI is being lobbied by big Japanese companies

[MoonRiverOasis]

Toyota isn't selling the Aygo in Thailand simply because of the business case around it, not because they "don't want to" or are "scared" as quoted in the original post. They already have the well established Yaris since 2006 (which is a consistant good seller), and the market simply doesn't have the buyers to support another similar vehicle from the same manufacturer. We're talking about a market with 62M pop and 500K sales a year, compare that to AU at 22M pop and 1M sales, or US at 320M pop and 10M sales and you'll see that it's a tough market to work in.

In Thailand, pickups and PPV's (SUV's) account for 44.4% of the total new sales market, while passenger cars are at 46.7% (as of June 2010), and seeing as ~95% of the passenger car market is B segment, that makes them exactly as popular as pickups and PPV's. However, you are correct in stating that it's a developing trend - 3 years ago the stats were Pickup/PPV 61.8% and passenger cars 29.9% - however there were substantially less sales back then so the new numbers are just a reflection of the rising Thai middle class.

As for BOI/eco-car, Kata summed it up properly - in order to satisfy the volume requirements mandated by the BOI under the eco-car scheme, the model manufactured would require an under-serviced, high volume export market. For Toyota, this just does not exist at this moment in time, and that's the one and only reason why it's not happening now, and is on the back-burner until 2014.

No offence to the author af the linked article, but the "experts" he's citing definitely aren't in the product planning or marketing departments of the major vehicles manufacturers in Thailand.. I'm sure the article was written with the best of intentions, but it's unfortunately very naive.

As for Tata, they were in the program (fully approved) but pulled out when the excise tax was raised from the original 15% to 22% - there were no shenanigans or arm-twisting invlolved, just pure economics.

[ttechguy]

Thanks for detailed explanation, make sense.

So I am crossing fingers for Aygo launch ....

[MoonRiverOasis]

Thanks for detailed explanation, make sense.

So I am crossing fingers for Aygo launch ....

You're welcome

As for Toyota's eco-car, I'm almost certain we'll see something in 2014. That's a long time to wait however, so also keep in mind that Honda's eco-car launches in December this year, and Mitsubishi's entry (which will feature a choice of E85, hybrid and all-electric drivetrains) goes into production September 2011 for an early 2012 launch..

[ttechguy]

Yah, I heard from Honda sales girl yesterday, Honda Eco-Car will be launched this year end in Motor show in Impact Arena.

Mitsu - too late to wait