Three months after premiering the all-new Innova MPV, Toyota has commenced exporting the model from its manufacturing base in Karawang, Indonesia. Various overseas markets for the model include Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Toyota Indonesia begins exporting the new Innova
The automaker kicked off the first batch of shipments in a ceremony graced by Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and Japanese ambassador to Indonesia Kanasugi Kenji. Toyota Asia Pacific President Hao Quoc Tien led company representatives who were also in attendance.
Known locally as the Kijang Innova Zenix, the model carries Toyota’s aspirations to contribute to Indonesia’s national automotive industry as it enters the electrification age. “The first export of Kijang Innova Zenix is impossible to achieve without the full support of the Indonesian government,” said Toyota Indonesia President Director Warih Andang Tjahjono.
Indonesia's Trade Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita waves the checkered flag to kick off the shipments
He adds that the automaker is adopting a ‘multi-pathway’ approach to meeting Indonesia’s carbon reduction targets. These include the use of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) as well as biofuel-powered models.
The new Innova is the first electrified model exported by Toyota Indonesia, as the company aims to increase its overall exports by five percent this year and add more markets, especially in Africa.
For 2023, Toyota Indonesia is looking to export over 8,000 units of the third-generation Innova, split between standard combustion variants (70 percent) and hybrid versions (30 percent). It plans to gradually increase exports of the MPV annually, with the goal of reaching 17,000 units by 2025.
Toyota Indonesia plans to increase both its overall exports and target markets for 2023
Toyota launched the new Innova in November 2022, departing from the established tradition of the nameplate by underpinning it with a unibody front-wheel-drive platform and phasing out the diesel option in favor of a gasoline-hybrid powertrain. In India, the automaker is still selling the previous Innova alongside the latest one, the former offered with rear-wheel-drive, diesel power, and a manual gearbox.
Since Toyota Indonesia has begun exporting the third generation Innova, hopes are high that the Philippines will be one of the model’s destinations. Hopefully, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) will have some good news regarding that within the year.
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