Toyota is reportedly considering manufacturing a mini-MPV model in Thailand in response to market growth potential in a segment currently dominated by the GM Chevrolet Zafira. A report in the Bangkok Post says that the model is a seven-seater, codenamed 760N and built on the Corolla platform.
Rival Honda will enter the segment in Thailand next year with its Civic-based Stream.
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The Bangkok Post report suggests that Toyota’s possible move to enter the Thai mini-MPV market could be part of a policy of introducing more modern ‘lifestyle’ vehicles onto the Thai market. The success of the Zafira could be tempting Toyota away from seeing Thailand mainly as a low value added market dominated by one-tonne pick-ups.
However, sources at Toyota Motor Thailand told the newspaper that said that it hasn’t been finalised whether other models could be on offer – such as the ist which is an Echo-based hatch-cum-mini-MPV developed to compete with the five-door Honda City.
