Affordable Avanza and Xenia hit RI streets
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd., together with their Indonesian partner PT Astra International, launched on Dec. 11 the much-awaited cheap, affordable, multipurpose van (MPV), sending warning signals to their competitors.
The importance of the latest move was signified by the presence of TMC senior managing director Akio Toyoda and Daihatsu president Takaya Yamada at the launch ceremony at Gran Melia hotel.
A mini concert by music groups Dewa and Ratu was added to give a more festive atmosphere to the launch of the new MPVs, the Toyota Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia. Dewa even composed a special song for the occasion, which was adopted as the advertising jingle.
The Avanza and Xenia can be regarded as a further development of the Daihatsu Taruna, a low-end sports utility vehicle (SUV) that is quite popular among young people.
This is already the third time for TMC and Daihatsu to work together in cobranding efforts in the international market.
Earlier in 2000, both companies launched the Cuore compact sedan in Pakistan, the production of which is carried out by Indus Motor Company.
The second cooperation started in 2001 in Venezuela in the form of the Terios MPV.
The Avanza and Xenia will be sold separately through Toyota's and Daihatsu's own car dealerships, although they will both be manufactured at Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) factories.
Astra International has a 37.81 percent share in ADM, while TMC holds a 51 percent share in Daihatsu.
The MPV's body design has a strong link to the Taruna, although the MPVs are more of a family car, while the Taruna is sportier and more macho, with a strong line in the bumper, equipped with a rail guard.
Dubbed a baby Kijang, the MPVs are indeed a crossover of the Toyota Kijang -- perhaps the most successful car in Indonesia, already reaching the 1 million production mark -- in terms of design refinement, with the Daihatsu Taruna in terms of compactness.
The Toyota Avanza comes with one engine option only, powered by a 1,298 cc, four-cylinder, in-line, double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine, and comes with full accessories.
It also has a spoiler on the rear door as a standard option.
The front tires use MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs and stabilizer, with disk brakes.
The rear tires use four-link coil springs, with drum brakes.
Interested Daihatsu-lovers can choose to buy either the three- cylinder 989 cc Xenia Mi or the 1,298 cc Xenia Xi.
Both variants of the Xenia use MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs for the front tires and five-link, rigid-axle suspension with coil springs, for the rear tires.
The Xenia Mi has limited features and accessories when compared with the Xenia Li or Avanza. It, for example, comes without an audio system or fog lamps, although it has centralized locking, power windows and a rear wiper.
The Daihatsu Xenia is offered at a price range of between Rp 70 million (about US$8,258) and Rp 90 million, while the Toyota Avanza is tagged from Rp 90 million to Rp 100 million.
Many automotive pundits expect that the presence of the Avanza and Xenia will deliver a severe blow, not only to other competitors but also to other productions of both the Toyota and Daihatsu.
With such low prices, the new MPVs are a threat to the Suzuki Carry minibus, Karimun compact sedan and Aerio MPV.
Even the Daihatsu Taruna and Espass minibus market may be shaken up to some extent.
"I admit the Taruna market and our minibus will be affected but we are not worried at all," said Yamada.
"This cooperation combines Daihatsu's know-how on developing small cars and engines with Toyota's image and high-standard production quality," he added.