Toyota looks to enhance operations in North-East.

Japanese car giant Toyota plans to increase operations in India’s northeastern region, where its sales have grown at double the national average of three per cent annually.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with Kirloskar group, is looking to set up an area office in the North-East considering its rising importance. 'The North-East market is currently growing by six per cent in our representative segment against a national growth of three per cent. It is expected that in the second half of the year, the North-East market will show much healthier growth,' Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) senior vice president and director (sales and marketing) N Raja told PTI. The North-East market contributes 20 per cent of the total eastern market, therefore making it very significant region for TKM, he added. Last month, TKM sold 11,215 units in India, down 6.6 per cent as compared to 12,007 units in August 2013. With rising sales in the eight states of the North-East, the auto maker plans to strengthen presence in the region.

'We do intend to establish an area office in Guwahati at the right time in future,' Raja said without giving any timeline for having the establishment.

Currently, the entire North-East market is being addressed out of the east regional office in Kolkata.

The company, however, has exclusive sales, service and customer relation personnel in the region.

BS