Toyota India has restarted their sales and service operations as lockdown has been eased
Earlier this month, Hyundai, Maruti, Hero MotoCorp and few other automakers have been given the go-ahead by the Government to restart production. Now, Toyota Kirloskar Motors has also resumed operations at Bidadi plant as well as at dealer level. Sales and after sales service operations of Toyota cars like Innova Crysta, Fortuner and Glanza have also restarted.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor MD Masakazu Yoshimura has drawn attention to the safety to be followed for manufacturers, dealers and customers. He has listed out a series of safety precautions to be followed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He states that he is not only intent to safeguard the company’s employees and dealerships but is also concerned about the health of customers visiting these premises. Yoshimura also thanked the front line workers, be they medial or safety heroes, who are fighting this pandemic on a daily basis, putting their own lives at risk. Below is his video message.
Toyota has released a Restart Manual which list out guidelines to be followed. Every employee will have to follow social distancing, cover face with a mask at all times and carry sanitizers for regular use. Thermal body checks will be done upon entry to the premises each day.
These precautions are not only restricted to the company plant but have also to be followed by sales and service teams so as to make showrooms as safe as customer’s homes. All canteens will also have staggered timings so that employees do not crowd at the same time while suppliers have also been aligned with this process of staggered supplies.
For the month of April, Toyota India reported zero sales in view of the prolonged nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. In the month of March, the company had sold 7,023 cars in domestic markets while exports touched 999 units of the Etios. These figures were exceedingly low when compared to 12,818 units sold in domestic markets and 844 Etios cars exported in March 2019.
The auto industry as a whole now has to contend with an adverse economic situation in the country coupled with low consumer sentiments. They will have to work hard to rebuild disrupted supply chains and restore production to former levels.
Toyota India has also digitized its sales processes so as to allow customers to make purchases from the comforts of their own homes with 360 degree online platforms with experts standing by to offer advice to customers. The sales process allows for virtual tours of vehicles, online booking, loan options and facilities and deliveries right upto the customer’s doorstep.
