Here's how Toyota says it will aid the SA taxi industry

Johannesburg - Toyota South Africa says it will increase its support to the local taxi industry with the introduction of a complimentary 3-year or 60 000 km service plan for all new Ses’fikile taxis sold from August 2017.

Toyota SA: "The service plan is intended to support the industry viability and ensure the safety of taxi commuters."

Toyota SA says it has "taken a number of steps to contain the price inflation of the Ses’fikile, given the deteriorating value of the rand and high local inflation rate".

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In addition, Toyota says it has invested more than R550-million to date in the Quantum Plant at its production facility at Prospecton in Durban. Production of the Quantum was first localised in 2012 with a SKD (Semi Knock-Down) facility which was then upgraded to a full CKD (Complete Knock-Down) site in 2015. A further R11-million was invested in upskilling staff working specifically at the Quantum Plant.

Toyota has also subsequently started with an aggressive localisation plan for the majority of parts and components, with the aim of mitigating the weakening rand/yen exchange rate.