Lexus Considers ES Sedan Assembly Line in India

Posted by Kevin on February 28th, 2018

According to Bloomberg, Lexus is considering the assembly of ES sedans in India:

To be sure, assembly isn’t the same thing as full manufacturing. The current proposal centers on knock-down kits — collections of pre-made parts designed for assembly in destination markets that have been a part of the global auto industry for a century.

That would mean a smaller local component to manufacturing, although even with complete knock-downs some elements such as paint tend to be added in the end-market.

Such kits would attract duties of only 30 percent to 40 percent, compared to more than 100 percent for imports of finished cars, the Mumbai-based Economic Times reported last October after rumors of such an arrangement surfaced.

This is would be a dramatic shift in manufacturing strategy for Lexus, especially when the brand has only just started selling vehicles in India and have a projected 2018 sales target of 300 units. In contrast, Lexus sold 131,000 vehicles in China last year and have resisted the benefits of local manufacturing due to a perceived quality issue.

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Comments
mikeavelli
Once the quality is there, localization makes a ton of sense.
Joaquin Ruhi
The "Lexus manufacturing in India" rumors are reignited by a Japanese-language Asashi Shimbun article. Fortunately, David Fickling brings us some English-language insight and commentary on the subject in a Bloomberg Gadfly column titled A Passage to India for Lexus.

Here are its most pertinent highlights:

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus is considering assembling its ES brand in the nation to take advantage of lower import tariffs on auto parts, the Asahi newspaper reported, citing an unidentified official...

The marque was around for 25 years before Toyota opened its first production line in the U.S. -- and even there, new cars have to be checked against the perfection of a Japanese-made model before they're allowed out of the plant...

To be sure, assembly isn't the same thing as full manufacturing. The current proposal centers on knock-down kits -- collections of pre-made parts designed for assembly in destination markets that have been a part of the global auto industry for a century.

That would mean a smaller local component to manufacturing, although even with complete knock-downs some elements such as paint 1 tend to be added in the end-market.

Such kits would attract duties of only 30 percent to 40 percent, compared to more than 100 percent for imports of finished cars, the Mumbai-based Economic Times reported last October after rumors of such an arrangement surfaced...
Still, the decision represents a leap for both sides. Despite a concerted push by the government and a strong preference for better vehicles among consumers, India's tin-can-like cars are hardly synonymous with quality...

Meanwhile, taking even a lesser job like assembly out of the hands of the Japanese takumi is a sign that Lexus has reached a point of acceptance as competitors catch up with it on quality, and is preparing to let its hair down a little.

That's no bad thing. There's a huge market for prestige vehicles, and Toyota will be limited if it treats every premium car like a Patek Philippe. A less obsessive Lexus might have to downgrade its quest for perfection to Rolex levels -- but as luxury goes, that's not a bad place to be.
S
Joaquin Ruhi
The "Lexus manufacturing in India" rumors are reignited by a Japanese-language Asashi Shimbun article. Fortunately, David Fickling brings us some English-language insight and commentary on the subject in a Bloomberg Gadfly column titled A Passage to India for Lexus.

Here are its most pertinent highlights:
People who follow how TMC works, especially with regards to Lexus, know that this is a no story at all. They basically have minimal sales in India, and Indian market is focused on lower end vehicles with no sight of change.

I understand that India wants to be like China, but it is not there, it is not even getting there so all this stories about EVs in India or Lexus in India is just nonsense.
krew
Lexus Considers ES Sedan Assembly Line in India

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Assembly, not manufacturing.
View the original article post
M
India is a smart player in current global market. They put hefty taxes on imports just to tell you hey you better invest in here and then you are welcome to grab piece of the pie. That's how you build up industry in your country. Hopefully they have a plan how to contain the population and increase life quality of it's citizens. I've never seen so many homeless people like I've seen in India.

M