|
Although
Toyota''s fleet might look its gleaming best, some restructure
is apparently under way at Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM).
While it will look after output, CNBC-TV18 reports a
new company, Toyota Kirloskar Sales, will handle the
group''s sales and marketing.
The
unit will be part of Singapore-based Toyota Asia Pacific.
Company sources say this will boost decision-making
efficiency. But Toyota says there is no such move.
However,
Vikram Kirloskar, vice chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motors,
denies this. He says, "I don''t know why it should
be spun off because we are not really importing and
selling cars here. And why add another layer of bureaucracy
to something."
Experts
say the move comes because the Innova''s sales have apparently
slumped. TKM had priced Innova at Rs6.5 lakh, which,
company sources say, was Rs100,000 more than the product
planning department had recommended.
Besides,
even the Toyota Corolla seems to be facing rough times
in the market after Honda launched its Civic.
Toyota
is believed to have reduced production and cut prices.
And now company sources say Toyota has more than tripled
its advertising and
marketing budget to Rs200 crore from Rs72 crore last
year. It hopes all those moves will push its cars and
its sales graphs as well.
|