Toyota Motor Corporation is set to establish its first research and development (R&D) centre in India through its local subsidiary. This will be Toyota's third R&D facility in the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan, following similar investments in Thailand and China. Initially focused on catering to the Indian market, the centre has the potential to evolve into a global R&D hub, similar to Mercedes-Benz's existing facility in Bengaluru.

The new R&D centre will be located in Bengaluru, near Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s manufacturing facility in Bidadi. It will commence operations with a workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. By 2027, this number is expected to reach around 3,000 engineers, supporting Toyota’s broader objectives in India.

Toyota recently restructured its India operations to serve as a key hub for its business across the Middle East, East Asia, and Oceania. As part of this strategy, the company has been making significant investments in India, particularly in the development of clean and green technologies.

The company is also closely analysing the R&D model of Suzuki’s Indian unit in Rohtak, one of the country’s largest automotive engineering hubs. This move aligns with Toyota’s growing collaboration with Suzuki, which focuses on integrating R&D and product development.

As part of this partnership, Toyota is set to launch the Urban Cruiser EV, a rebadged version of Suzuki’s first electric vehicle, the e-Vitara. Production for this model will take place at Suzuki Motor Gujarat starting in 2025. This initiative marks a crucial step for both companies as they work towards strengthening their presence in India’s growing electric vehicle market and expanding their footprint globally.

News source: Auto Car