Toyota C-HR-Based Crossover Set For Geneva Debut

Toyota has revealed its plans to offer a production version of the C-HR Concept and confirmed its debut for the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

The vehicle will be built at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing facility, in Sakarya, Turkey, which will become the company’s third plant to produce hybrid vehicles outside Japan, after the Burnaston, UK, where the Auris Hybrid and Auris Touring Sport Hybrid are assembled, and France, where the Yaris Hybrid is built.

Dr. Johan van Zyl, TME President and CEO, commented: “We are entering the C-segment crossover market with a fantastic product and with a hybrid powertrain from the start. This will provide our European operations with further perspectives for sustainable growth.”

TMMT (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey) currently manufactures the Corolla and Verso and its total capacity will increase from 150,000 to 280,000 vehicles anually. The future crossover’s annual production will depend on demand, but officials are expecting to increase its numbers from 3,000 to 4,000 in the months leading to its assembly start, planned for the end of 2016.

In order to introduce the C-HR-based crossover, Toyota has invested around €350 million ($394 million equivalent) for the project at TMMT, in a cumulative investment that will reach €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion).

The new compact rossover will be based on the TNGA (Toyota new global architecture) and it will become the eighth model produced by Toyota in Europe, for the local market, along with the Avensis, Auris, Yaris, Aygo, Camry and Corolla. The automobile will have its global premiere on March 1, in Geneva.