Toyota M’sia sets 70,000 unit sales target, Vios Challenge to follow in August



Things have not been a bed of roses for UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, not least for the past two years. But with a few promising models that are about to make its way to the market, perhaps there is a silver lining to this distressing episode.

It begins with the little things, like setting a moderate but optimistically achievable sales target of 70,000 units for 2017. With the power of elementary mathematics, that’s a full 30 percent lesser than the goal Honda Malaysia has set for themselves this year. Toyota Malaysia however, did not reveal in detail the cars they will be launching this year, though we know for sure the Lexus LC 500 will.

In the same announcement, newly elected President of UMW Toyota Motor, Mr. Ravindran Kurusamy said they will introduce the Vios Challenge to Malaysia sometime in August. The legitimate small-scale motorsports series will be the result of a collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR).

TGR is globally recognised on the world stage of motorsports, having participated in the World Rally Championship, World Endurance Championship, 24 Hours Nurburgring and Dakar Rally. In fact, they even commissioned the manual-only, supercharged Toyota Yaris GRMN making 205 horsepower.

There was however, no mention on whether or not the new Toyota Vios or Toyota C-HR will be launched this year.