Toyota marks construction start of second Indian plant

The ceremony was held at the proposed plant site on the outskirts of Bangalore in India's Karnataka State, and was attended by Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa.

At the ceremony, TMC Senior Managing Director Akira Okabe expressed the company's aim in the following way: "We hope to establish in Karnataka a firm base for our monozukuri culture—which combines production technologies based on the Toyota Production System and human resources development—and to be able to contribute to the growth of India through our activities in Karnataka."

The second TKM plant is scheduled to have an annual production capacity of 100,000 passenger vehicles (including a new compact vehicle) when it begins operation in 2010.

Both TKM plants are playing an important role in TMC's sustainable plant activities, which seek to emphasize the role of nature in creating production sites that are in harmony with their natural surroundings, by pursuing the following initiatives:

• Reducing energy consumption through the introduction of production technology with lower CO2 emissions
• Using renewable energy sources, such as biomass, solar and wind power
• Striving for a harmonious coexistence with the local community through such activities as planting trees at plants
• Reducing environmental impact through measures such as introducing a wastewater recycling system, using water-borne paints, and achieving zero landfill waste

TKM is a joint venture automobile production and sales company, established on the outskirts of Bangalore in 1997 by TMC and the Kirloskar Group. Currently, TKM produces the "Corolla" and the IMV series "Innova" minivan, with annual production of 52,000 vehicles in 2007 (an 18% year-on-year increase).

TMC is expanding its local production in India and is actively investing to create attractive products. Its policy is to continue to contribute to the development of India's automotive industry and to the country's overall economy.

Outline of TKM