Todays automotive media reports indicate that once the Toyota Highlander is in domestic Chinse production, the fair sized Highlander will be on sale for a mere 270,000rmb putting it up against imported compact SUV range such as the X-Trail, and the Mitsubishi Outlander. The Chinese made Outlander is expected to be paired to 2.7 and 3.5l engines, with the possibility of a 3.3l Hybird model, we estimate that Chinese production will begin early next year.
We’re unsure where the Highlander will be made in China, but as the current imported Highlander is sold through Guangzhou Toyota, we can expect that it will be produced in cooperation with Guangzhou, and not the Toyota-Sichuan FAW joint venture partnership.