In a recent wide-ranging Automotive News Europe interview, Toyota Europe president and CEO Johan van Zyl was asked about the possibility of producing the successful Lexus UX crossover in Europe. His noncommittal reply:
I think it would be very difficult to localize. You would need to do a proper localization of componentry, not just assembly. Otherwise, you just transfer parts from one country to another. The volumes are not sufficient to justify it.
When pressed further, however, van Zyl stated that if Lexus UX reached 100,000 annual European sales, the marque would certainly reconsider that decision.
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