Managing multiple brands can be a tricky endeavor – just ask the Big Three – but Toyota plans to launch a fourth brand as it expands into the ultra-cheap car segment. The ultra-affordable city car is being developed with Toyota’s Daihatsu subsidiary and will be built in India.
According to Automotive News, the tiny city car will target Tata’s Nano and Renault/Nissan’s upcoming small car model. At $5,000 the new car won’t be as inexpensive as Tata’s and Renault’s offerings – which are expected to list from $2,500-$3,500 – but should offer an entry-level model for emerging markets.
That minuscule price target is the reason for the addition of a fourth brand, with the car deemed too cheap for the Japanese automaker’s Toyota, Lexus or Scion brands.
No word on what Toyota will name its new brand – or the new model for that matter – but look for Toyota to market the new marque in India, Brazil and a few other developing regions. Production should begin in India by 2015, with sales following shortly after.
11/10, 3:39 PM
posted by:
Borat
Same practice was used by Nissan in US with Datsun. They did not expect success, so in the case of failure there would be no association with mother ship. Not to be confused with Buick+Oldsmobile+Pontiac building the same car with different grille and option list.
11/10, 3:49 PM
posted by:
ckron247
Send the scions over there. Maybe they will actually be start over on the right foot and market them to the right people.
11/10, 4:02 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Come one guy’s Toyota is No. 1, they are the world champ, anything they do, and every car they make is perfect! It’s just to bad they are not getting back on the cool car list… HA.HA……
11/10, 4:12 PM
posted by:
andy
yarddog82abn… lol oh where start with that comment… where to start
11/10, 4:25 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
2015, USA will be the developing region fresh from full blown recession and financial ruin.
11/10, 4:40 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Why not just use Daihatsu for the lowest-priced brand? They are already just selling rebadged Toyotas anyway..
11/10, 5:31 PM
posted by:
freeyellow2000
I noticed it does say where it is only available “…but look for Toyota to market the new marque in India, Brazil and a few other developing regions” I guess US/ Europe are out of the question.
Well I know US out since they really isn’t a Daihatsu dealer anywhere.
11/10, 9:08 PM
posted by:
DrFill
The way things are going, we may be on the “Developing” list in 2015
DrFill
11/10, 9:34 PM
posted by:
Kaizen
LLN should realize that Toyota already has more than three ‘bradns’.
11/10, 11:26 PM
posted by:
olds307
LMAO Toyotas built in India. Wooooooooooooooo
11/11, 2:48 AM
posted by:
VWgrouP
I think instead of creating a newer low cost company, they should just mark down the price of the Yaris and Carolla. The price would match the quality perfectly!
11/11, 1:39 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
ZoomZoomer: you beat me to my thought: Just sell these cars as daihatsus.
VWgrouP: You’re right.