Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) will start manufacturing the Corolla Cross in the fourth quarter of this year following a R2,43-billion investment to fettle it Prospecton, Durban plant – this also becoming the first locally manufactured hybrid model.

The Corolla Cross will be manufactured in right and left hand drive formats for domestic and international markets.

President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), Andrew Kirby predicts total market sales for 2021 will settle at 460 000 for the year but acknowledges that forecasting in such a volatile market is challenging.

The forecast translates to an industry sales increase of 79 551 units, or 21%, compared to last year’s retail total. Of the total forecast, Kirby estimated 285 200 will be passenger, 151 800 will be light commercial vehicles (LCV) while the remaining 23 000 will comprise medium and heavy commercial vehicles.