FAW Toyota launches RAV4 SUV to market.
April 10, 2009 - FAW Toyota launched its RAV4 SUV to the Chinese market this afternoon. The new car comes with 10 models, priced between 189,800 yuan ($27,800) and 264,300 yuan.
The Toyota RAV4, which rolled off the production line at FAW Toyota in Tianjin early las week, is a mini SUV which shares the same platform with Corolla. This SUV is powered by 2.0L or 2.4L engine and equipped with a 5-speed transmission.
Up to now, Toyota has been selling the imported four-door version of RAV4 at a starting price of 310,000 yuan. The imported model is the third-generation RAV4 with standard and luxury versions, both powered by the same 2.4LVVT-I engine as Camry. Now the imported RAV4 SUV model is sold at a discount to make room for the locally made model.
China's SUV market is booming at a rapid rate. The RAV4 will certainly help Toyota fill a gap in China's low-cost SUV segment that appears to be controlled solely by its rivals. The previous Toyota SUV made in China is the full-sized Toyota Prado, built in the FAW-Sichuan factory, and sold with a very high price tag.
The China-made Toyota RAV4 ("Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive") SUV will compete with Dongfeng Honda's CRV in the Chinese market, where Toyota plans to sell 50,000 units of the RAV4 this year.
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200904/58573.html