Toyota Kirloskar Motor
Corporate brand
UnclaimedToyota Motor Corporation's Indian joint venture with Kirloskar Group, responsible for manufacturing and selling Toyota vehicles in India.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKM) is the Indian joint venture established by Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar Group to manufacture and market Toyota vehicles in India. Toyota holds an 89% stake and Kirloskar Group holds the remaining 11%. The company is headquartered at Bidadi in Karnataka, near Bengaluru, where it operates vehicle manufacturing facilities and supports a nationwide sales and service network. Toyota entered the Indian market through TKM in 1997. Its first locally marketed vehicle was the Qualis, launched in 2000 in the multi-utility vehicle segment. The Qualis gained traction rapidly and, within roughly two years, reached a reported 20% share of its segment against established Indian manufacturers including Mahindra and Tata Motors. Toyota subsequently broadened its portfolio with the Camry in 2002 and the Corolla in 2003. In 2005, TKM introduced the Innova as the successor to the Qualis. Built on Toyota's IMV platform, the Innova became one of the company's most important vehicles in India and strengthened Toyota's position in the family-MPV and people-mover market. The Fortuner, another IMV-based model, followed in 2009 and established Toyota more firmly in the sport-utility vehicle category. TKM later expanded into entry-level vehicles with the Etios, manufactured from 2010 under the Entry Family Car project. The project was supported by a second plant and created more than 2,000 jobs at TKM, along with approximately 500 jobs at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts. The company expanded its production and distribution infrastructure as its Indian business grew. Its Bidadi manufacturing operations were developed across two plants, with reported combined capacity of approximately 320,000 vehicles per year. The sales and service footprint grew from 22 outlets in 2000 to 166 in 2011 and 359 in 2019. By April 2019, Toyota reported more than 350 dealerships across 225 Indian cities. TKM's product strategy has also been shaped by Toyota's cooperation with Suzuki. Discussions began in 2016, followed by agreements concerning electric vehicles, model sharing, hybrid technology and manufacturing. Through this relationship, TKM marketed the Glanza from 2019, based on Suzuki's Baleno, and the Urban Cruiser from 2020, based on the Suzuki Vitara Brezza. In 2022, it launched the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, a Suzuki-developed sport-utility vehicle produced by TKM and incorporating Toyota's hybrid system. TKM also introduced the Hilux pickup truck in India in 2022. Beyond mainstream Toyota vehicles, Toyota introduced its Lexus luxury marque in India in 2017. TKM has also used motorsport to support brand engagement and driver development. The Etios Motor Racing Series began in 2012, attracted thousands of applicants and culminated in a championship for selected drivers in 2013, with race cars prepared by Red Rooster Performance and designed by Toyota Racing Development. TKM remains an active Indian automotive manufacturer and distributor focused on passenger vehicles, utility vehicles, pickups, hybrid vehicles and related after-sales services. Its Indian operations combine Toyota's global technology and quality systems with local manufacturing, supplier development, dealership operations and market-specific partnerships.
History
Toyota Kirloskar Motor was formed in 1997 when Toyota Motor Corporation entered India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group. Toyota owns 89% of the venture and Kirloskar Group owns 11%. The company established its headquarters and principal manufacturing base at Bidadi in Karnataka, close to Bengaluru. TKM began selling vehicles in India with the Qualis in 2000. The multi-utility vehicle quickly gained acceptance and reportedly captured 20% of its segment within two years, competing with established domestic manufacturers. Toyota broadened the range with the Camry in 2002 and the Corolla in 2003. In 2005, the Innova replaced the Qualis and became a central model for the Indian operation. The Fortuner, based on Toyota's IMV architecture, followed in 2009. The company moved into a more accessible segment through the Entry Family Car project. Production of the Etios began in 2010 at a newly developed second plant. The project generated employment at TKM and at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts. Rising demand led TKM to expand production, and the two Bidadi plants were subsequently described as having combined annual capacity of approximately 320,000 vehicles. TKM also developed its Indian distribution and service infrastructure. The network expanded from 22 outlets in 2000 to 166 in 2011 and 359 in 2019. By April 2019, the company had more than 350 dealerships in 225 Indian cities. The network supported Toyota's growing portfolio of cars, utility vehicles and premium offerings. In 2014, the company faced a significant industrial-relations dispute. Production at both Bidadi assembly plants was temporarily suspended after disagreements with the union concerning wages and alleged interruptions to production. TKM announced that the lockout would be lifted subject to employees signing a good-conduct undertaking. The employees ended their strike after 36 days and operations resumed. Toyota's Indian strategy increasingly incorporated cooperation with Suzuki. The companies began considering an Indian partnership in 2016 and reached broader understandings in subsequent years concerning electric vehicles, model sharing, hybrid vehicles and manufacturing. TKM launched the Glanza in 2019, based on Suzuki's Baleno, and the Urban Cruiser in 2020, based on the Vitara Brezza. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder followed in 2022; it was developed by Suzuki, manufactured by TKM and fitted with Toyota's hybrid system. TKM also launched the Hilux pickup in 2022. Toyota introduced Lexus in India in 2017, adding a luxury brand presence to its local activities. TKM supported motorsport participation through the Etios Motor Racing Series. The program began in 2012, attracted approximately 3,300 applicants, used cars prepared by Red Rooster Performance and designed by Toyota Racing Development, and held its principal championship in 2013. TKM's continuing role is to manufacture and sell Toyota vehicles in India, combining Toyota's global engineering and operating standards with local production, partnerships, dealerships and service operations.
- 2022
Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Hilux launch
[1]TKM expands its range with the hybrid-oriented Urban Cruiser Hyryder and the Hilux pickup truck.
- 2019
Glanza launches
[1]TKM launches the Suzuki Baleno-based Glanza under the Toyota brand.
- 2017
Lexus introduced in India
[1]Toyota brings its Lexus luxury brand to the Indian market.
- 2010
Etios production begins
[1]The Etios becomes TKM's first entry-level model under the Entry Family Car project.
- 2009
Fortuner enters the Indian range
[1]TKM introduces the Fortuner SUV, expanding Toyota's utility-vehicle presence.
- 2005
Innova replaces Qualis
[1]The Innova launches on Toyota's IMV platform as the successor to the Qualis.
- 2003
Corolla introduced in India
[1]TKM brings the Corolla to the Indian market.
- 2002
Camry introduced in India
[1]TKM adds the Camry to its Indian portfolio.
- 2000
Qualis launches
[1]TKM introduces the Qualis, its first product in the Indian market, in the multi-utility vehicle segment.
- 1997
Toyota enters India through TKM
[1]Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar Group establish Toyota Kirloskar Motor as an Indian automotive joint venture.
Products and positioning
A Japanese-Indian automotive joint venture positioned around Toyota reliability, locally manufactured utility vehicles, passenger cars, hybrid technology and nationwide after-sales support in India.
Multi-utility vehicle · 2000
Qualis
TKM's first vehicle in India, launched in 2000. The Qualis competed in the multi-utility vehicle segment and rapidly established Toyota in the Indian market before being replaced by the Innova.
Multi-purpose vehicle · 2005
Innova
Introduced in 2005 as the successor to the Qualis, the Innova uses Toyota's IMV platform and became a core vehicle for TKM in India's family and commercial people-mover market.
Sport-utility vehicle · 2009
Fortuner
An IMV-based SUV introduced by TKM in 2009. The Fortuner broadened Toyota's presence in India's utility-vehicle segment and became one of the company's prominent products.
Entry-level passenger car · 2010
Etios
TKM's first entry-level model, produced from 2010 under the Entry Family Car project. Its production supported the development of TKM's second plant and related local employment.
Passenger car · 2019
Glanza
A Toyota-branded model launched in 2019 through the Toyota-Suzuki partnership. It is based on Suzuki's Baleno and represents TKM's use of cooperative model sharing in India.
Hybrid sport-utility vehicle · 2022
Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Introduced in 2022, the Urban Cruiser Hyryder was developed by Suzuki, manufactured by TKM and equipped with Toyota's hybrid system. It reflects the companies' cooperation on electrified vehicles and Indian production.
Pickup truck · 2022
Hilux
Toyota's pickup truck introduced by TKM in India in 2022, extending the local product range into the pickup category.
Passenger car · 2002
Camry
A Toyota passenger car added to the Indian portfolio in 2002.
Passenger car · 2003
Corolla
Toyota's compact passenger-car line introduced by TKM in India in 2003.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Etios Motor Racing Series
India
Toyota India created a one-make racing series based on the Etios to provide young Indian drivers with a progression route from karting toward touring-car competition. The program attracted approximately 3,300 applicants, staged exhibition events in 2012 and held its main championship in 2013.
Outcome. Twenty-five selected drivers competed in the main championship. The cars were prepared by Red Rooster Performance and designed by Toyota Racing Development.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch the Urban Cruiser HyryderProduct launchBackground
Toyota and Suzuki planned Indian production and marketing of vehicles incorporating hybrid and shared-development capabilities.
Action taken
TKM launched the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, developed by Suzuki, manufactured by TKM and incorporating Toyota's hybrid system.
Aftermath
The model expanded TKM's Indian SUV range and strengthened its hybrid-vehicle offering.
2019
Launch the GlanzaProduct launchBackground
The Toyota-Suzuki partnership included plans for exchanging and marketing selected models in India.
Action taken
TKM launched the Glanza, a Toyota-branded model based on Suzuki's Baleno.
Aftermath
The launch demonstrated the partnership's model-sharing approach in the Indian passenger-car market.
2016
Begin structured cooperation with SuzukiStrategyBackground
Toyota and Suzuki explored cooperation in India amid growing interest in shared products, electric vehicles and hybrid technology.
Action taken
The companies developed plans for model exchanges, electrified vehicles and production cooperation.
Aftermath
The relationship led to Toyota-badged Suzuki-based vehicles and the jointly supported Urban Cruiser Hyryder.
2005
Replace Qualis with InnovaGeneration changeBackground
TKM needed a newer multi-utility vehicle after the Qualis had established Toyota in India's people-mover market.
Action taken
The company launched the Innova on Toyota's IMV platform as the Qualis successor.
Aftermath
The Innova became a central product in TKM's Indian portfolio.
1997
Establish an Indian joint ventureStrategyBackground
Toyota sought a local structure through which it could manufacture and sell vehicles in India.
Action taken
Toyota Motor Corporation formed TKM with the Kirloskar Group and retained an 89% ownership stake.
Aftermath
TKM became Toyota's principal manufacturing and sales platform in India.
Recent events
- 2022
Toyota Kirloskar Motor launches the Urban Cruiser Hyryder[1]
Product launch · Product generation
TKM released the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, a Suzuki-developed SUV manufactured by TKM and equipped with Toyota hybrid technology.
- 2022
Toyota expands its Indian pickup portfolio with the Hilux[1]
Product launch
TKM introduced the Hilux pickup truck to the Indian market, extending the company's local range beyond passenger cars and SUVs.
- 2022
Toyota launches the Hilux pickup in India[1]
Product launch
The Hilux added a lifestyle and utility pickup to TKM’s Indian portfolio.
- 2022
Toyota launches the Urban Cruiser Hyryder[1]
Product launch · M&A
The Urban Cruiser Hyryder was developed through the Toyota–Suzuki cooperation, produced by TKM, and offered Toyota hybrid-system technology.
- 2020
Toyota launches the Urban Cruiser[1]
Product launch
TKM introduced the Urban Cruiser, derived from Suzuki's Vitara Brezza, as part of the companies' Indian-market partnership.
- 2020
TKM introduces the Urban Cruiser[1]
Product launch
The Urban Cruiser extended Toyota’s Suzuki-based product cooperation into the compact-SUV segment as a Toyota-branded version of the Vitara Brezza.
- 2019
Toyota introduces the Glanza through its Suzuki partnership[1]
Product launch · M&A
TKM launched the Glanza in India as a Toyota-badged vehicle based on Suzuki's Baleno, reflecting the companies' model-sharing and market cooperation.
- 2019
Toyota launches the Glanza through its Suzuki cooperation[1]
Product launch · M&A
The Glanza was introduced as a Toyota-branded version of Suzuki’s Baleno, giving TKM a competitively positioned hatchback for the Indian market.
- 2017
Toyota and Suzuki develop an Indian market partnership[1]
M&A
Toyota and Suzuki agreed to cooperate on vehicle marketing and electric mobility in India, later expanding the arrangement to vehicle supply, hybrid technology, and manufacturing.
- 2017
Lexus enters the Indian market[1]
Product launch
Toyota introduced its Lexus luxury marque in India, complementing TKM’s mass-market Toyota operations with a premium offering.
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