With the introduction of a new commercial vehicle range, Toyota South Africa is hoping to increase its local market share in the light commercial vehicle category, the company said yesterday.

The launch of the Toyota Quantum is expected to give the carmaker a boost in the large panel van and commuter segment of the South African vehicle market, which is currently showing significant growth potential.

Toyota South Africa general manager: marketing planning Brian Eades told journalists that the company is aiming to lift its market share in the light commercial vehicle segment back up to 35% this year, following a slide to the current 30,6%.

Eades believes that the Quantum, with a range of three body derivatives, will place Toyota on a very competitive footing, and expects that the vehicle, which fits into the under-3,5-ton class, will be in a strong position to compete with vehicles in the 3,5-ton and over segment.

The Quantum is being imported as a fully-built unit and there are currently no plans to manufacture components or assemble the vehicle locally.

Eades also explained that the Quantum would not be aimed at the taxi market, but rather marketed as a 'business' vehicle. Toyota's latest offering does not fulfil government's multibillion-rand taxi recapitalisation programme requirements, which call for new 18-seater buses to replace the country's current ageing fleet of minibus taxis. Currently, carmakers are still waiting for government to release the final specifications that will be required for new taxis.

The Quantum essentially is a range of six vehicles in three body types, fitted either with a 2,7-litre petrol engine or Toyota's new 2,5 D-4D diesel powerplant. Body styles provide for a standard panel van, a long-wheelbase high-roof panel van, and a 14-seater bus, based on the long-wheelbase high-roof body.

This also gives Toyota South Africa the opportunity to move into two market segments where it has, up to now, not had representation - the long-wheelbase panel van market and the commuter bus market.

It is anticipated that 146 units a month will be sold in the panel van configuration and 80 units a month will be sold in the 14-seater bus format during 2005.

The new model has also given Toyota South Africa the opportunity to rationalise its production of the Hi Ace to one single model, the Siyaya 16-seater taxi, and focus on the needs of the taxi market as the leading supplier of this type of vehicle in the country. The company is currently experiencing near-record demand for the Siyaya 16-seater, as operators are no longer holding off replacement in anticipation of the taxi recapitalisation programme.

The launch of the new model has seen the discontinuation of the Hi Ace van and Stallion van ranges, and the rationalised production is an element of Toyota's long-term plan that will see production at its Prospecton manufacturing facility reach 200 000 units plus in the near future.