Toyota Vios one-make race

Recently, UMW Toyota revealed the imminent arrival of the Toyota Hilux pick-up in Q2, 2016, and the MPV duo of the Vellfire and Alphard in Q3 of the same year. At the same time, the company also updated us on its upcoming developments including the adoption of a new tagline, its foray into motorsport, as well as its sales estimates for 2016.

First up, “All About The Drive” will be the company’s new tagline, which encompasses a wide range of consumer vehicle technology for its future offerings. This includes a focus on not only safer vehicles, but vehicles that are also a thrill to be behind the wheel of, adapted to the “fast-changing lifestyle” of today’s customers as exhibited by the #ViosPulseOfAction TVCs here.

We have already been told that the Hilux, Vellfire and Alphard will be arriving in 2016. These models could also be joined by the Fortuner SUV and Innova MPV, both of which have already debuted in Indonesia. However, no tentative arrival dates were provided so their arrival is anyone’s guess for now. The second-gen Toyota Sienta is also rumoured to make its way to Malaysia after it was announced that the MPV would be introduced in Indonesia this year.

2015 Toyota HiLux 4x4 SR double cab
Toyota Gazoo Racing logo

UMW Toyota also announced it will re-enter the world of motorsports with the involvement of Toyota Gazoo Racing – a move that that is believed to serve as a good platform to promote the Toyota brand further. Globally, the regrouped racing outfit was first introduced in April 2015, uniting all previous Toyota motorsport divisions – Toyota Racing, Lexus Racing and Gazoo Racing – under one banner.

Finally, UMW Toyota Motor has revealed that it will be lowering its sales estimates for 2016 to 87,000 units. From that figure, 85,000 units represent Toyota models, while the remaining 2,000 units are made up of Lexus vehicles. The reduction in projected vehicle sales is in line with MAA’s predictions for 2016, where more stringent hire purchase regulations by banks are cited as factors for the decline.

In 2015, UMW Toyota managed to hit sales of 95,861 units, where 93,760 units were Toyota models, whereas the remaining 2,101 units were Lexus models, the latter representing a new sales record. The Toyota Vios and Lexus NX proved to be the most popular models for their respective brands.

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