The Toyota Aygo might get the TNGA Treatment.
The A-segment hatchback is usually a vehicle of extreme compromises and tight cost-cutting decisions. Since 2005, Toyota in Europe has been building its Aygo alongside vehicles from Citroen and Peugeot with shared parts. Moving forward, Toyota has just announced that they’re committing to a new city car in this segment. The Aygo has been on sale since 2005, with the 2nd generation model debuting in 2014. It’s possible this new A-segment vehicle will retain the Aygo name, but this has not been confirmed.
The next announced new city car by Toyota will ride on the TNGA-B platform. It will be third GA-B car after the European/Japanese Yaris (including the GR Yaris) and Yaris Cross models, which are B-segment vehicles.
Toyota are still tight lipped on the details of this new A-segment hatchback. However a few things are apparent. It will still be a petrol or diesel powered vehicle, as these types of cars are all about low pricing. Battery electric vehicle technology still hasn’t reached the economies of scale and pricing required for this segment.
They are also anticipating that the introduction of this A-segment hatchback will bring TNGA-B production up to 500,000 units per year in Europe. Given that the outgoing Aygo model has at best sold about 100,000 units a year, perhaps the PSA alliance will have to continue to reach those kinds of figures as it’s unlikely Yaris and Yaris Cross figures can help bridge the gap to 500,000.
Whether or not the agreement to produce this new A-segment hatchback alongside PSA’s brands will continue is still up in the air. Now that PSA is part of the larger Stellantis alliance with FCA, the strategic alliance between Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot may be difficult to justify. Perhaps other existing alliances with Suzuki, Subaru, or Mazda will instead be used to corner this market and increase TNGA-B utilisation.
Whether or not the agreement to produce this new A-segment hatchback alongside PSA’s brands will continue is still up in the air. Now that PSA is part of the larger Stellantis alliance with FCA, the strategic alliance between Toyota, Citroen and Peugeot may be difficult to justify. Perhaps other existing alliances with Suzuki, Subaru, or Mazda will instead be used to corner this market and increase TNGA-B utilisation.
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
Toyota today announced its continued commitment to Europe’s A-segment (city cars), confirming it will produce a third model on its GA-B vehicle platform.
The new car will continue the role of previous A-segment models as an entry point to the Toyota brand and maintain the key quality of being accessible to customers.
The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) philosophy for the development of new vehicle platforms has delivered recognised improvements in the ride, handling, safety and styling of a succession of new models. The all-new Yaris, for example, recent winner of the 2021 European Car of the Year award, is constructed on the GA-B platform and has been very well received by customers for its design, packaging, efficient and responsive hybrid electric powertrain, driving dynamics and class-leading safety.
The next model to use the small car platform will be the Yaris Cross SUV, scheduled for launch later in 2021. Yaris Cross and the new A-segment model are expected to increase European production of GA-B based vehicles to more than 500,000 units a year. Achieving this volume will help deliver the economy of scale required to ensure that the new A-segment model is an accessible proposition for customers.
The choice of powertrain is equally important. The A-segment remains dominated by models powered by internal combustion engines, further emphasising how cost remains a key consideration. The market outlook sees this situation continuing, with financial accessibility remaining a dominant consideration for customers
