Auto News Desk – Toyota Kirloskar Motor (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) has started the third shift at its Karnataka plant to increase production capacity by about 30 percent. The company is looking to reduce the waiting period on some of its popular models such as the Innova Crysta (Innova Crysta) and Fortuner (Fortune). The automaker has started operations at its Plant 1 in Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, from the first week of May to ramp up manufacturing capacity. I have started the third shift. The company has invested over Rs 90 crore to upgrade the existing infrastructure at the plant and induct around 1,500 employees for the third shift at the plant.
In an interaction, TKM Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Sudip S Dalvi told PTI, “We have started the third shift at the plant which makes models like Innova Crysta, Innova Highcross and Fortuner.” These products have been very successful and have a waiting period. It’s too long. We’re trying to minimize the impact on customers. The company shut down the plant for about a week to modify some areas to start the third shift, he said. Had done it.
“We have invested over Rs 90 crore on plant capacity expansion,” Dalvi said. He added that the plant will produce 30 per cent more from the third shift than what it is producing now. TKM aims to produce 30,000 units a year from the plant. TKM’s Plant 1 started production in December 1999. And currently produces Innova Highcross, Innova Crysta, Fortuner and Legender.
Products like Camry Hybrid and Hilux are also assembled at the Bidadi plant. TKM’s Bidadi plant currently has a total production capacity of 3.10 lakh units per annum. Dalvi said operations at its second plant, which makes products like Hayrider and Grand Vitara is not part of the current capacity addition initiative. In April, TKM decided to temporarily close bookings for the top trims of its MPV Innova Hycross from April 8, due to ongoing supply challenges. The automaker had last year stopped taking bookings for the diesel variant of the Innova Crysta due to high demand and extended waiting period.