Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Ghana has launched the ninth-generation Hilux and the new Land Cruiser FJ, with fresh investment in local assembly operations expected to support the company’s market expansion and contribute to the development of Ghana’s automotive industry.

Speaking at the launch, Head of Sales Operations at Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Ghana, Andrew Lamptey, says the company has invested in new equipment and workforce training to facilitate the assembly of the latest Hilux model in Ghana. He added that the new model required additional investment because the equipment used for the previous generation could not be used for the latest version.

“We’ve been assembling the Hilux in Ghana over the past four or five years. And this is the confidence we have in the Ghanaian economy. Over the years, we’ve contributed so much to the Ghanaian industry. We’ve invested a lot in ensuring that we are able to assemble this particular new brand.” he said.

Mr Lamptey says developing local component manufacturing could further expand the industry’s contribution to employment and economic growth.

“For the moment, a lot of the assemblers are importing most of the components. But the idea is to be able to develop the industry to a point where we’ll be able to manufacture some of the components locally,” he said.

He added that building local capacity could create jobs and support exports, noting that “the main goal is to be able to have a lot of component manufacturers.”

National Sales and Marketing Manager at Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Ghana, Jerry Mensan, says the launch also forms part of the company’s strategy to increase market share while improving mobility and creating employment opportunities.

“Our core reason for bringing these products onto the market is to aid mobility in Ghana. Automobile mobility is part of our core. Of course, we are a business entity. And definitely market share is also a priority for us. Once we invest, we would want to get something out.” he said.

Mr Mensan said the company’s local assembly operations were contributing to employment, with Ghanaians accounting for nearly all its workforce. He added that local assembly does not compromise the company’s quality standards.

“About 99.9% of employees there within Toyota Ghana are all Ghanaians. The standards are not compromised although they are produced here from Ghana. We maintain the same standards that Toyota keeps way back in any of the assembly plants,” he said.

Mr Lamptey said the new Hilux also incorporates customer feedback, while Toyota’s vehicles are designed with features suited to Ghana’s road conditions.

The company says developing local component suppliers will be critical to expanding the automotive value chain beyond assembly, creating more jobs and positioning Ghana to benefit from future vehicle exports.