Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Company has shortlisted six suppliers from India to work on its much-awaited ?Etios? platform of cars. Toyota has been talking about high localisation content on the ‘Etios’ hatchback and ‘Etios’ sedan cars, that are expected to be rolled out in the country by the end of the current financial year. A localisation of 70% is seen at the start of production stage by the company.
?We plan to procure many parts from Indian suppliers, with an eye on realising a high local procurement rate. We have selected six onsite suppliers, including Toyotetsu India Auto Parts Private Ltd (TTID), JBM (Jai Bharath Maruti) Ogihara Automotive India, Asahi India, Supreme Treves, Wheels India and Tata Johnson,? said, H Nakagawa, managing director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors.
JBM Group, the sheet metal component manufacturer, has grabbed the order to supply over 100 parts for Toyota ?Etios?. These would include brackets, reinforcement parts, suspension parts, body in white parts, frames (door and windows), brake base, floor panels, beam sub assemblies, door hinges and fuel tank fillers, among others. Nishant Arya, executive director, JBM Group, said, ?We are investing Rs 300 core in new plants, current plant expansions and modernisation, investments in technology and people, among others. And Toyota Etios project is an important part of it.?
He added that the group will be opening two new plants in Bangalore to serve the Toyota Etios and other at Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh to serve TVS Motor Company. Other companies including TTID is supplying press parts (stamping and welding), Asahi India (glass), while Supreme Treves will deal with the carpet and headlining of Etios and Wheels India with tyre and wheel assembly. Tata Johnson will look after the seat assembly.
Of late, India has become a sourcing hub for components by global auto majors for their operations worldwide as well as for domestic needs. Global companies are stepping up investment in new platforms with India as a base in terms of vendor development. Some companies that source from India are Honda, BMW and Fiat.