Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   The Indian Car Scene (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/)

-   -   Spotted - Daihatsu Sirion in Kolkata. Is this Toyotas small car for India? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/23120-spotted-daihatsu-sirion-kolkata-toyotas-small-car-india-2.html)

Could be Maruti or TATA, wanting to take it apart and check it out and maybe learn something.

Guys

I think we are shooting off in the wrong direction, I am 99% sure it is an import for Bhutan - being a land locked country only way to get a car in is through Kolkata port. There is a garage in Kolkata opp Sambhu Nath Pandit Hospital who store and transport the cars to Thimpu. And the white sheets are no camalflouge but is how cars are transported in containers, actully they are sprayed with grease of sorts to protect from rust. This car has been cleaned and is waiting temp no to send off to its destination.

Ritayan

Why would you import one car at a time and a Sirion from japan when so many are available from India.

May be because Bhutanese don't have to pay taxes on cars for import? At one point of time (probably still is) when Toyota was not yet heard of in India, Bhutan had lots of Toyotas plying as taxis & pick up trucks.

Then why are the spottings only for Toyota stable cars. Does Bhutan have a non-Toyota Filter?

It is not only Toyota stable cares, I have seen in my days in Kolkata Merc, BMW, Nissan - Sunny being the favourit, but true Toyota is a favorite as someone told me there is a toyota service station in Thimpu and thats why the liking. Also apart for the Royal family the Per capita income being low they import largely low end cars.

Nope, I still feel its Toyota India involved. The timing is just right, plus I dont understand why anyone would go through the trouble for a small hatch. A luxury sedan....maybe. But not for a small hatch.

Well there is news that Diahatsu might actually be entering India independently, not with Toyota. Yodendra Pratap has mentioned this himself on the overdrive forum.

1. Daihatsu is controlled by Toyota.

2. Toyota wants to be a volume player in India.

3. Daihatsu is a relatively unknown brand in India, while Toyota is....well.

I dont see the logic in Daihatsu coming directly instead of under the Toyota brand.

Yeah i agree with you GTO, i think its much better for them to enter through Toyota. I was just mentioning hear what the editor of a popular magazine is saying because he is obviously well informed with whats happening in the market and behind it.

Daihatsu is a relatively known name for people who have tried Diesel conversions. Atleast down south here.But Daihatsu will definitely have the advantage of having the Toyota backing.

Was in Malaysia last weekend and Oh my god.. Only 2 brands of cars ruled the road.. Proton and Daihatsu...

Toyota definitely requires a volume player in the compact car segment and have been looking at the Daihatsu stables for quite some time

Why would someone camouflage the car if its an import???

Had spotted these Daihatsu's on NH-2 in April 09 and had forgotten to post the pics.withstupid

They had temp WB plates. Quite a few of them going in the direction away from Kolkata.

The small car had all the badges taped.

wow wow wow!!! the TERIOS aka RUSH. I think Skoda Yeti is inspiring other manufacturers. what is the second car in night pics?

Alas!!! If only Premier Rio inspired other manufacturers for sake of poorer mango people like us :(

edit: they need to be watermarked quickly. where is dippy :D

Looks like Toyota is planning expand its range of cars. After the success of Innova, Altis and Fortuner they are eyeing the hatchback segment to be a volume player.

AFAIK Toyota is developing the small car from scratch so they might be testing the engine and underpinnings in this Daihatsu.