‘India is the most important market for Toyota’: Masakazu Yoshimura

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), which has registered robust performance in CY24 is in a strong position to clock its best-ever year in FY25 in the Indian market. Armed with its true-blue UV products – Hilux, Innova, and Fortuner – as well as a slew of compact cars like the Hyryder, Glanza, and Taisor from the Suzuki stable, TKM is outpacing the average market growth.

Driving the company towards record performance this fiscal is its MD and CEO, Masakazu Yoshimura, the Japanese expat who has been stationed in Bengaluru - closer to TKM’s main manufacturing facility in Bidadi, Karnataka - and is overseeing Toyota’s business in not just India, but Middle East, East Asia, and Oceania regions as well.

"It is a big change for Toyota that also reflects the importance of the Indian market which changes rather quickly. It emphasises decision making speed and agility," he says.

While a humble and customer-focused Yoshimura gives the entire credit of TKM’s growth to the company’s loyal customers who believe in its high-on-quality, and reliable products, Toyota’s inherent and relentless focus on quality, durability, and reliability is what has struck a chord with customers globally.

In this freewheeling interview, Yoshimura gives insights into Toyota’s quality focus, the successful collaboration with Suzuki, alongside shedding light on the company’s upcoming plant in Maharashtra to expand its manufacturing footprint from both domestic and export perspectives.

VIDEO: