[84.monsoon]

Originally Posted by gomzi

when will this madness end?
Toyota is just diluting it's brand by rebadging Maruti products. The pure toyota products made the brand a vaunted name in Indian autos sector, this is plain...

Toyota is only looking at its brand perception within India on account of the products they sell in India. As far as a local market is concerned, Maruti products share much of the same value proposition as Toyota. They are known for good, cheap service, fuel economy, maintenance free and long lasting and engineerd for comfort and convenience as opposed to speed and dynamics. So in this way, the placement of Maruti products and Toyota products in the consumers' mental perception map is not very different.

Also, Toyota cannot be an one or two product wonder in a country like India. They have realised that to get more consumers into the showroom, they need to be offering products that cater to different age income and lifestyle groups. A consumer who starts their experience in the Toyota brand with the sub compact like the glanza and then graduate to products such as a Hyryder and the Hycross as they grow older and have different needs with evolving family situations. By offering only products in the mid to high price segments, Toyota misses out on a number of consumers who might otherwise stick to the brand throughout their life journey.

[Ton Ami]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

With the kind off premium they charge and being one of the top Automobile OEM in the world, it's sad that this is all they can do a for an important market like India. Customers are the one to lose due to lack of options !

I won't say that India is yet an 'important' market for Toyota. Just look at the %share of India sales in overall Toyota sales or % share of Toyota in Indian market.

Toyota has always made half hearted attempt and launched mediocre products in India or charged huge premium for its global offerings in India.

[Kochikaran]

This launch reminds me of Clark Gable famous dialogue, “Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn”

[Carpainter]

Originally Posted by 84.monsoon

Also, Toyota cannot be an one or two product wonder in a country like India. They have realised that to get more consumers into the showroom, they need to be offering products that cater to different age income and lifestyle groups. ... By offering only products in the mid to high price segments, Toyota misses out on a number of consumers who might otherwise stick to the brand throughout their life journey.

Then what is stopping them from offering their low cost small cars like Yaris hatch or Corolla hatch (with a different name may be) with much better quality than these Suzuki with "made for India" built quality. Not sure about Baleno but Ertiga is definitely a 0-2 star safety rated car. People were always okay with little less features in Toyota cars in the name of safety and resale and ease of ownership. When customers see these cars in Toyota showrooms along with Crysta and Fortuner, they will get the idea that Toyota has lost its perception as a premium brand with safe and quality products only next to luxury German brands. Toyota may get a few thousand extra sales each year from these cars but their long term market reputation is surely going to dilute this way.

[amoi]

Originally Posted by Arsenic

Looks like the Rumion is now set for a launch by September, according to Autocar India. Interestingly, this Indian-spec model sports a different front grille and alloy wheel design.

This low-effort rebadging hurts the image of both companies alike. Atleast go the VW-Skoda route if you wish to share platforms . Toyota and Suzuki have done this before too, with the Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the Grand Vitara.

The Rumion and Ertiga look basically the same. Even the Glanza and Baleno, I've heard people say "the Toyota is just a copy" and "why can't they make their own cars?".

[Dr Alpha]

Toyota and Suzuki’s collaboration is one of the worst from a customers point of view. They don’t launch new products just rebadge each others existing products. At the end we as a market suffer from lack of competition between two major brands with different portfolios. Rather than competing with each other in the respective strong segments like Suzuki competing with Toyota in SUV and MUV by launching their own product and Toyota with Suzuki in sedan and hatchback this mindless rebadging results in nothing except easy money into these companies pocket.

[SLK_2005]

Originally Posted by Arsenic

Looks like the Rumion is now set for a launch by September, according to Autocar India. Interestingly, this Indian-spec model sports a different front grille and alloy wheel design.

The biggest Carmaker in the world is providing leftovers to India and has mastered the art of badge engineering

[gururajrv]

Toyota is Greedy! This alliance is way too boring than a mega serial. Toyota doesn't want to do heavy lifting by bringing good cars from their international markets. Indian market has matured to an extent where they don't only look at cars with good economy, they accept cars with performance and looks now. Look at Tata and Mahindra to learn a thing or two, please!

I really hope Toyota won't stoop down any further than Ertiga and look at S-Presso to access lower segment markets too.

[r0nit7]

Originally Posted by gururajrv

I really hope Toyota won't stoop down any further than Ertiga and look at S-Presso to access lower segment markets too.

Toyota is currently at Celerio level (read Toyota Vitz - being exported from India to Africa). I wouldn't bet a dime against a Toyota S-presso, the way this partnership is headed.

[DevD]

Toyota Rumion now live on Toyota India site.

https://www.toyotabharat.com/showroom/rumion/

[shimoo]

Come on Toyota. Just give it new lights as well. That way you can redesign the front and rear end completely. And give it a fresh interior too and people won't even mind.

Look at the VAG twins. Such smartly differentiated styling while still retaining common sheet metal, powertrain and many other parts.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by shimoo

Come on Toyota. Just give it new lights as well. That way you can redesign the front and rear end completely. And give it a fresh interior too and people won't even mind.

Look at the VAG twins. Such smartly differentiated styling while still retaining common sheet metal, powertrain and many other parts.

That’s not gonna happen. The entire game is plain and simple badge engineering - literally. Minimum possible effort. Given how they have been operating wrt Baleno-Glanza and HyCross-Invicto, they believe they are going us a huge favour by differentiating the grilles. Don’t expect anything more.

[shimoo]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

That’s not gonna happen. The entire game is plain and simple badge engineering - literally. Minimum possible effort. Given how they have been operating wrt Baleno-Glanza and HyCross-Invicto, they believe they are going us a huge favour by differentiating the grilles. Don’t expect anything more.

I can see that you're frustrated with the rebadging. They're just cars, don't take it so personally

Anyway, if it is of any hope, the new gen Baleno-Glanza have more differentiation than the outgoing generation.
The HyRyder and Vitara also have significantly different styling. Like I said, if they also change the upper half of the interiors (Like VAG twins) no one would mind/notice.

[yaleen]

They could have introduced few of the XL6 features to differentiate (like a XL7). Features like 16 inch wheels, HUD, tinted glass, etc, from the same Maruti parts bin would have given some small differentiation from Ertiga.

[avdhesh15]

Originally Posted by DevD

Toyota Rumion now live on Toyota India site.

https://www.toyotabharat.com/showroom/rumion/

Attachment 2491513

Looks beautiful unlike anything I've seen before