After 26 years in the country, Toyota announced the production of a third vehicle at its Zárate plant, the HIACE utility. The company has already begun the construction of a new industrial warehouse to produce the commercial vehicle in its Van L2H2 and Commuter versions -passengers-, starting in January 2024.
With an investment of US$50 million, the production volume during its first stage will be around 4,000 units, with a potential of 10,000 units per year in the medium term.
Like the Hilux project, which was born in 1997, HIACE production will be destined for the domestic market and for export to Brazil, as a starting point to evaluate new destinations in the region.
This new industrial project will share auto parts and components with the two vehicles that are now produced in Zárate and exported to 22 Latin American countries: the Hilux pickup and the SW4 SUV. The industrial warehouse under construction will have a modular design that will contemplate an eventual expansion for future Toyota projects.
HIACE has been present in the Argentine market since 2019, imported from Japan. “Its value proposition, both in the L2H2 Van and Commuter version, complements keys for any business such as durability and efficiency, with a special focus on people: it is a comfortable, practical and safe vehicle for the driver”, the brand said in a statement. It is equipped with the Hilux SW4 (2.8L – 1GD) engine-transmission package, with 6-speed automatic transmission. The Van version has a power of 177 CV, and the Commuter, 163 CV. The L2H2 Van has a cargo capacity of 9.3 cubic meters and the passenger Commuter has 13 seats plus the driver’s seat.
Source: Ambito
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