Shanghai, April 16 (Gasgoo.com) To highlight its growing presence in the Chinese auto market, Toyota Motor will display the China-made versions of its Toyota Highlander and RAV4 SUVs at the 2009 Shanghai auto show next week, sina.com said today.
The Japanese automaker confirmed its plans yesterday to display the two Toyota SUV models. Toyota noted that both locally built vehicles will be shown for the first time. The China-made Toyota RAV4 and Highlander are being introduced "in response to the expanding SUV market in China," said Toyota.
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The RAV4 SUV started commercial production in Tianjin last month and went to the domestic market on April 10. The Toyota RAV4 is a mini SUV which shares the same platform with Corolla. This SUV, powered by 2.0L or 2.4L engine, will compete with Dongfeng Honda's CRV in the Chinese market, where Toyota plans to sell 50,000 units of the RAV4 this year.
Mass production of the Highlander SUV is set to kick off in May at the newly built second plant of GAC Toyota, a joint venture between Guangzhou Auto and Toyota Motor. The first batch of the locally made Highlander SUV will be delivered to buyers by June. It will offer the 2.7L model as its flagship.
China's SUV market is booming rapidly. The locally made Highlander and RAV4 will help Toyota fill a gap in the country’s huge low-cost SUV segment. The previous Toyota SUV made in China is the full-sized Toyota Prado, built in the FAW's Sichuan factory.
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