Toyota Philippines Introduces Tougher Innova Sport Runner

Toyota Motor Philippines sets the stage for the new Year 2010 as they introduce a tougher version of the country’s best-selling commercial vehicle, the Innova Sport Runner. All the passenger car-like comfort offered by the Toyota Innova is packed inside this new variant, with an improved sportier exterior. The Innova SR features new overfenders, side skirts, rear spoiler, new front fog lamp design, 15” alloy wheels in a wider 225 / 55 R15 tires, Sport Runner badge and exclusive black and bronze exterior colors. It will be available in 2.5-liter diesel automatic and manual transmissions at Php 1,064,000 and Php 999,000 respectively. “The Sport Runner is a fresh addition to the Innova line-up. While the Innova has been consistently performing very well since its 2005 introduction, averaging 900 units per month in sales, we understand that there are customers who are also looking for a tougher or sportier look that will compliment the Innova’s driving performance and riding comfort.

We are confident that this new variant will further solidify the Innova’s position as the best-selling MPV, and will contribute to TMP’s overall sales leadership,” surmised Raymond Rodriguez, First Vice President for Vehicle Sales. The Innova Sport Runner will be available in any of Toyota 27 outlets nationwide this month.

Toyota Vios, Innova Most Popular Vehicles in 2009

The Toyota Vios was the best-selling car in 2009, accounting for almost a quarter of the 46,021 vehicles sold by top auto maker Toyota.

Preliminary data from Toyota showed that 11,981 units of its locally-assembled sedan were sold last year.

Toyota’s van, the Innova, also assembled in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, was the second biggest seller with 10,311 units sold in 2009.

All in all, the two models accounted for nearly half of Toyota’s sales in the Philippines last year.

Including the sales of Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, which sold 172 units last year, the Japanese car maker sold a total of 46,193 units in 2009. Read more

Toyota to Improve Multi-Purpose Vehicle Line

As vehicle sales continue to dip, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) announced that they will be introducing improvements in their International Innovative Multipurpose Vehicles (IMV) soon.

In a statement, Toyota said that the new line is composed of the Hilux pick-up truck, Fortuner compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), and Innova multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The company said the improvement of the IMV aims to further strengthen the company’s number one position in the commercial vehicle segment.

The country’s top-selling commercial vehicle, the Innova, offers more convenience with an automatic up/ down power driver.

The Hilux, the country’s highest selling pick up truck, enhances its current line up with improvements which includes driver’s airbag, seatbelt warning, 4 spoke steering wheel, power doorlocks, and front fog lamps. Read more

Toyota Philippines to Raise Price of Innova on Higher Costs

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), the country’s largest automobile distributor, said the price of Innova may go up as a result of higher operational cost because the income tax holiday (ITH) being given by the government expired last March.

In an interview, TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said they have already asked the Board of Investments (BOI) for an extension of their four-year ITH to six years.

Gutierrez said that initially, BOI classified Innova as a non pioneer project. But given that it is an Asian vehicle, Gutierrez said that it can be re-classified as a pioneering project. Under the law, pioneer projects are given six years ITH, he said. Read more