Renault's Logan Spurs Toyota Into Low-Cost Action

Filed in archive on January 22, 2007

According to the AFP, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe has told the Financial Times that a new top priority for what may soon be the world's largest automaker is low-cost production.

This comment and new focus from Toyota's president is seen as a direct response from the challenge that French automotive giant Renault's price cutting efforts pose. Renault has plans to introduce cheap cars through its new Logan line to large, lucrative emerging markets such as China and India.

Toyota's aim now is to cut manufacturing costs such that it too can produce a $6,000 budget A-to-B commuter machine.