Toyota To Establish Its First R&D Centre In India: Report

Reports have surfaced stating that Toyota Motor Corporation is preparing to establish its first research and development facility in India. The centre would be located in Bengaluru, near Toyota Kirloskar Motor's existing manufacturing plant in Bidadi. Initial staffing is expected to reach 2,000 employees, with plans to grow to 3,000 engineers by 2027. We have reached out to TKM to confirm the same, and are awaiting a response.

This development represents Toyota's third R&D investment in the Asia-Pacific region outside its home country of Japan, following earlier facilities in Thailand and China. While the centre will initially concentrate on the Indian market, reports state that it will gradually transition into a global innovation hub, similar to Mercedes-Benz's Bengaluru operation that currently employs 9,000 engineers.

The Japanese automaker previously explored establishing an R&D presence in India around 2010 but did not proceed at that time. The current initiative appears to strengthen Toyota's ongoing partnership with Suzuki, particularly in research and product development. Reports also suggest that Toyota is closely examining Suzuki's Rohtak facility, which stands as one of India's premier automotive engineering centres with approximately 3,000 engineers.

A significant outcome of the Toyota-Suzuki collaboration is the forthcoming Urban Cruiser EV, adapted from Suzuki's e Vitara model. Production is scheduled to begin at Suzuki Motor Gujarat in 2025, representing an important step in the companies' joint strategy to enter both Indian and international electric vehicle markets.

Last year, Toyota also reorganised its Indian operations, establishing the country as its central hub for Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Oceanian business activities. The company has also directed substantial investments toward positioning India as a global leader in sustainable automotive technologies.