Toyota Considers Tie-Up With Suzuki To Gain Access To Emerging Markets

Today, rumors that Toyota Motor Corp. might be planning a tie-up with Suzuki rattled the relative tranquility of Tokyo’s auto scene. Suzuki, and Toyota through its Daihatsu subsidiary, are the leading players in Japan’s idiosyncratic “kei car,” or mini vehicle market. So why should you care whether one maker of alleged cars powered by a pint-sized 0.6 liter engine covets another?

While the First World seems to be fixated on whether Tesla, Uber drivers, or autonomous cars will unhinge the automotive industry (answer: not in my lifetime, but I am old) the true seismic dislocations happen in the navel-gazing’s blind spot, in the developing and emerging markets.
 

800over - 1/27/2016 5:59:33 PM

+2 Boost

As long as Toyota puts a GSX-R in their showrooms I am fine with it.

MDarringer - 1/27/2016 7:47:07 PM

-2 Boost

Suzuki makes road turds.

carsnyc - 1/28/2016 12:52:30 PM

+2 Boost

Don't they have Scion already?