Toyota SA has already put the soon-to-be-launched new Hilux, with which the company hopes to generate revenue of R120 billion from sales and its bakkie and SUV export programme over the next six to seven years, into production.
Toyota SA has already put the soon-to-be-launched new Hilux, with which the company hopes to generate revenue of R120 billion from sales and its bakkie and SUV export programme over the next six to seven years, into production. The export programme will result in 60 000 units being shipped to Europe every year from 2007 onwards.
It was arguably the biggest project of its kind yet undertaken by a South African motor manufacturer, Toyota SA President Johan van Zyl said after the first vehicles rolled off the Durban assembly line yesterday.
The announcement follows on the heels of General Motors SA securing a contract worth R18-billion to export Hummers.
The Hilux, which will go on sale locally on May 10, is one of five new vehicles being produced as parts of the International Multipurpose Vehicle (IMV) project launched by TMC last year.
South Africa is one of four global manufacturing bases for the IMV project, along with Thailand, Indonesia and Argentina.
Dr Van Zyl said Toyota SA had hired 800 employees to work directly on the IMV project and a further 100 had been employed to provide supply support to the new double-shift assembly operation.
He added that R2,4 billion was being invested in the project, of which R2 billion was in manufacturing facilities and equipment at Prospecton and another R400 million in supplier tooling.
Toyota SA was expected to produce 86 000 units next year, of which 49 000 units were destined for export. Production would rise to 120 000 units a year by 2007.
“Significantly, as we evolve further beyond the Hilux, as much as 50 per cent of our total vehicle production will be destined for export markets,” he said. Dr Van Zyl added that about 1 600 local components were being sourced from 78 suppliers in South Africa.
As CARtoday.com reported last year, Toyota SA aims to double production to 200 000 vehicles a year, a move largely made possible through the current construction of a R1-billion paint shop.
