2019 Toyota Vios to follow suit, will be produced at Laguna

MANILA: Just a day before the official launch of the 2019 Vios, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation held a roll-off ceremony. It was to announce that the company is going to commence production of the 2019 Toyota Vios at its factory at Laguna.

The Vios has come a long way since it was made available in the Philippine market as a CBU model in 2003. Things changed, and in 2007 the second generation of the car was being produced in Santa Rosa. This trend was taken forward by the next-generation model of the Vios whose production started in 2013. Now, the latest 2019 Vios is going to follow the suit and will be manufactured at the same factory.

Along with many other senior government officials, senior Toyota executives and their entire workforce at the Toyota Motor Philippines plant, the roll-off ceremony witnessed attendance from various personalities including DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Alfred Ty - Toyota's Vice Chairman, and Satoru Suzuki - TMP president.

Speaking at the ceremony, Satoru Suzuki - TMP president, said, “The Vios was introduced to the Philippines in 2003 as a Completely Built-Up or CBU model that was made in Thailand. Since 2007, it has been produced locally right here in Santa Rosa. Upon its introduction, the Vios immediately captured the hearts of Filipinos as a true icon of value and fun.”

Toyota’s manufacturing plant at Laguna is capable to produce 55,000 units a year. At present, the factory is rolling out 53,000 units per year that include Vios and Innova. In order to qualify for the incentives of the government’s CARS (Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy) Program, Toyota will need to produce 200,000 units of the Vios over the next six years. It means on an average 33,000 units of Vios should roll out from the Laguna factory every year.

Alfred Ty, Toyota's Vice Chairman, shared his views on this, “Increased local vehicle production under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS Program is one of the most significant ways that Toyota is helping to push this plan. TMP's participating model, the all-new Vios, is the reason we are gathered here.”

Looking at the previous sales number, Toyota sold 33,000 units of Vios last year. So, this is quite an optimistic sign that the company would be able to reach its goal and get the incentives of the CARS program.