BANGKOK, Thailand — Toyota Motor Thailand is reportedly planning to build a hybrid version of the Corolla in the country. It already was the first manufacturer in the country to mass produce a hybrid vehicle with its Camry Hybrid.
A Toyota insider revealed to Inside Line that the next mainstream model to get hybrid treatment in Thailand is the Corolla compact sedan, most likely with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to electric motors as in the Prius. "It won't necessarily be the next-generation model... it could be the existing one," said the source.
Toyota has already announced that the Europe-spec Auris, which is essentially a five-door hatchback version of the Corolla, will get a hybrid option later this year.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid has a 2.4-liter gasoline engine hooked up to electric motors. It was launched this week with prices ranging from the equivalent of $48,794 to $52,323, following a string of tax breaks Toyota has lobbied for with the Thai government.
Although the hybrid powertrain is basically the same as that sold in the U.S., engineering sources said the Thai version has some "tropicalized" components to cope with high heat and humidity in Thai driving conditions.
Since May, Toyota said that more than 900 units have been snapped up in presale booking orders, mainly by customers living in the capital of Bangkok. By the end of this year, Toyota hopes to sell 4,000.
Cars with hybrid powertrains get special tax treatment in Thailand: a 10 percent excise tax, compared with 35 percent for the regular Camry 2.4. The Thai government has also waived import duty for hybrid components that aren't manufactured in the country.
Meanwhile, Honda Automobiles Thailand says it still has no plan to build hybrid-powered cars yet, even though there are models like the Insight and Civic Hybrid to choose from.
Inside Line says: Hybridization looks to be on the way to mainstream status in Thailand, helped by the financial boost from the government. — Richi Leu, Correspondent
Add A Comment »