Toyota Introduces FJ Cruiser into China

FJ Cruiser, a compact SUV will be sold in the marking network of Guangzhou Toyota at the price of about CNY 450,000.

Its sales volume in the Chinese market is expected to reach 400 units a month, predicted Feng Xingya, vice general manager of Guangzhou Toyota.

Toyota has had a full-spectrum product line, with product prices ranging from CNY 300,000 to CNY 900,000 and dischargement ranging from 2.4 liters to 4.7 liters, in China.

Its sales in the country, the world's second largest auto market, is expected to hit 470,000 units in 2007, revealed Wang Fachang, executive vice general manager of the venture, adding the sales of Toyota's two China ventures has enjoyed stable increases in recent years.

Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Toyota and Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp., had planned to reach sales of 260,000 units in 2007. However, its sales for the first ten months of this year had amounted to 179,000, exceeding the total of last year. In that case, its sales for 2007 is expected to hit 280,000, about 20,000 more than as planned.

As for Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., a venture formed by Toyota and Guangzhou Automobile Group, it would not be a tough job to sell 170,000 vehicles this year.

FAW Toyota expects its sales surge about 50% year on year to 400,000 units in 2008 while Guangzhou Toyota also aims at sales of 280,000 units next year.

Besides, Paris, a sedan model of Toyota, would start production in Guangzhou Toyota in 2008, which will give the venture a big leg up to reach its sales goal.

Toyota, the largest automaker in Japan, plans to achieve a sales volume of 1 million units and seize a 10 percent share in the fast-growing Chinese auto market by 2010.

Of the 1 million units, 600,000 will be contributed by FAW Toyota, 300,000 to 350,000 will be contributed by Guangzhou Toyota, and the remaining 50,000 to 100,000 units, about 10 percent, will be achieved by Lexus, a high-end luxury sedan brand of the Japanese auto giant.

Statistics show that Toyota's annual production capacity in China is about 695,000 units currently. The company may set its 2008 sales goal in China at 700,000, forecasted industry experts.