UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) began 2023 with a bang through launching 5 GR fashions concurrently in February, together with the GR Corolla, GR86, Corolla Pass GR Recreation, Hilux GR Recreation and GR Supra with a six-speed guide.

This was once adopted through the creation of fourth-generation Vios in March, the Innova Zenix in June, the Corolla GR Recreation in August in addition to the fourth-generation Alphard and Vellfire in October. Alongside the best way, the corporate gave the common Corolla and Yaris some updates, whilst additionally presenting its multi-pathway technique to succeed in carbon neutrality.

Whilst the collection of launches has been notable, the most important information that shook the Malaysian automobile trade got here in August 2023 when Sime Darby introduced plans to obtain Permodalan Nasional Berhad’s (PNB) 61.18% stake in UMW Holdings, which itself has a 51% stake in UMW Toyota Motor in addition to a 38% stake in Perodua.

That deal was once finished in December 2023 via Sime Darby’s oblique wholly-owned subsidiary Sime Darby Endeavor (SDESB). It was once additionally printed then that Sime Darby has issued a compulsory basic be offering to obtain all of the final UMW stocks (38.82% stake) no longer already owned through Sime Darby Endeavor and SDESB, with UMW set to in the end be delisted from the Primary Marketplace of Bursa Malaysia.

It’s transparent that 2023 was once an excessively busy 12 months for Toyota in Malaysia, so what are we able to be expecting in 2024? Listed below are some attainable fashions.

Toyota Yaris Pass

First printed for the ASEAN marketplace in Indonesia in Might 2023, the Yaris Pass is a B-segment SUV this is situated above the Raize, which is the sister automotive to the Perodua Ativa (and Daihatsu Rocky). Since we’re citing Perodua, we need to convey up the closely rumoured and much-anticipated D66B this is reportedly going to be in keeping with the Yaris Pass.

Whilst the Raize isn’t offered right here along the Ativa, Toyota and Perodua do promote fashions which can be siblings to one another right here. Extra an identical ones are the Aruz and Rush, whilst fashions which can be considerably other (when it comes to design however percentage the similar underpinnings) are the Alza and Veloz.

We imagine the Yaris Pass to be a fashion of passion as a result of it may be a extra inexpensive SUV situated underneath the Corolla Pass, which these days begins from RM130,400. If the Yaris Pass is priced underneath this level, it may well be a good looking prospect.

At 4,310 mm lengthy, 1,770 mm vast, 1,615 mm tall and with a wheelbase of two,620 mm, the Yaris Pass is nearer in dimension of the Honda HR-V and Proton X50. For Toyota consumers who to find the Corolla Pass a little too massive, the Yaris Pass (doubtlessly) at a decrease access charge can be extra interesting.

Toyota bZ4X

Toyota’s first electrical car (EV) was once prior to now mentioned to be introduced in 2023, however this was once later revised to 2024. As we had been prior to now instructed, on-road trying out of the bZ4X has been ongoing since sooner than the center of 2023 and we even were given the risk to convey you a preview of the EV in a walk-around video excursion.

On paper, the bZ4X’s 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery supplies a WLTP-rated vary of as much as 500 km, with energy fed to a front-mounted electrical motor generating 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 266 Nm of torque.

Those figures might or will not be spectacular or enough for you, however the bZ4X’s albeit overdue access into the Malaysian EV birthday celebration way it’s going to haven’t any scarcity of pageant. Pricing shall be a very powerful issue to sway would-be consumers, so we’ll have to peer how a lot UMWT will push this fashion. Any guesses?

Toyota Prius

The fifth-generation Prius made its international debut again in November 2022 and made an look in Thailand eventually 12 months’s Bangkok World Motor Display (BIMS). The latter isn’t only for sake of exposure, as experiences out of Thailand point out that the Prius may well be introduced within the nation someday in 2024 – some declare once the primary quarter.

The Prius additionally has a historical past in Malaysia, because the third-generation fashion was once offered right here again in 2009, with the facelifted model being presented later in 2012 along the Prius c. With Thailand set to welcome the Prius once more (there was once a complete tax scandal factor years in the past that stopped gross sales since been resolved), bringing the Prius again to Malaysia is conceivable as a halo hybrid fashion.

UMWT has mentioned that hybrids are these days the most efficient are compatible for Malaysia taking into consideration the gasoline supply of our electrical energy technology and to be had of charging infrastructure outdoor town centres, so what higher nameplate to convey again than the person who made hybrids mainstream?

Toyota Hilux Champ

At the floor, striking the Hilux Champ on sale right here doesn’t appear most likely. Introduced in Thailand ultimate November, the Hilux Champ is the manufacturing model of the IMV 0, a back-to-basics pick-up truck this is intended to be affordable and without end configurable.

To be had with quite a lot of powertrains, the Hilux Champ includes a modular rear phase that permits upfitters to get a hold of a myriad of attainable aftermarket builds. Be it a shipment service, an emergency services and products car, a camper, a cell café/meals truck, an overlander, a race toughen car or even a cell electrical car (EV) charging station, the Hilux Champ can develop into it.

Priced from 459,000 to 577,000 baht (RM62k to RM78k) in Thailand, the Hilux Champ is extra inexpensive than the common, single-cab Hilux through about 100,000 baht (RM13,509). In a rustic that has a powerful love affair with pick-up vehicles, offering numerous inexpensive workhorse choices makes numerous sense – Thailand actually does have numerous pick-up truck variants.

In Malaysia, workhorse pick-up vehicles are relatively restricted when it comes to choices and most likely no longer seen as a concern. UMWT sells the Hilux Unmarried Cab 2.4 MT four wheel drive and that’s it, with each and every different Hilux being a double-cab variant that amps up the “luxurious options” to the purpose they develop into extra successful way of life cars. Even so, would Malaysians be all for a fundamental truck like this if it’s priced rather, both for paintings or day-to-day use? Take into accout, pick-up vehicles are tax loose beneath the ASEAN Loose Industry Space settlement.

So, that’s our ideas on what we will be expecting from Toyota in 2024. What are you hoping from the emblem this 12 months? Proportion with us within the feedback underneath.

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