UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has just announced that it ended 2023 with 108,107 units sold, its highest ever since 2012, when it sold 105,151 units.

Within the announcement is a quote from President Datuk Ravindran K., which provided some hints on what new Toyota models the company plans to launch in 2024.

“As we look forward to 2024, our focus will be on introducing more models, particularly with an emphasis on xEV technologies.”

xEV is an umbrella that encompasses battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), regular hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) or even hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). In the context of high-profile launches by Toyota in Malaysia, only HEV is relevant.

UMWT has repeatedly said that hybrids are the most practical carbon-reducing solution for Malaysia today.

Despite the focus on hybrids in its public messaging, UMWT currently offers only two models, with just one - the RM 142,000 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - achieving decent sales numbers. The other model, which might be less recognized, is the RM 202,000 Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid.

Honda Malaysia for example, has a hybrid variant for every model it sells except the WR-V.

This lack of Toyota hybrids will be addressed by UMWT in 2024. While UMWT's press statement didn't mention what xEV models will be launched, it's not difficult to guess.

2024 Toyota Vios Hybrid

It’s an open secret that Toyota is developing a hybrid version of the Vios. The Vios Hybrid has yet to make its global debut, but it is expected to do so in March's 2024 Bangkok Motor Show.

In Malaysia, segment rival Honda City already offers hybrid technology for two generations. The Honda City e:HEV RS hybrid currently sells for RM 111,900.

It is very reasonable to expect UMWT to launch a Toyota Vios Hybrid that’s aimed at the circa RM 100k price B-segment car buyers.

2024 Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid

The second model will most likely be the Toyota Yaris Cross. Like the Vios, our region’s Yaris Cross is a Daihatsu-developed model, riding on the DNGA platform. It’s not related to the TNGA platform Yaris Cross sold in Singapore, Japan, Australia, or Europe.

The Yaris Cross is a sister car to Perodua’s upcoming SUV model, codenamed D66B, which has been popularly referred to as the Perodua Nexis on the Internet. Nexis is the among names trademarked by Perodua with intellectual property registration agency MyIPO.

Like the Toyota Veloz-Perodua Alza arrangement, the Toyota Yaris Cross will likely be manufactured under contract by Perodua.

In Thailand, the Yaris Cross is sold exclusively as a 1.5-litre hybrid. In Indonesia, a regular 1.5-litre petrol engine shared with the Vios is also offered, but nearly 80 percent of Indonesian buyers opted for the hybrid.

Also read: Price equals up to RM 115k, 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross launched in Thailand; 1.5L hybrid-only, TSS

2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid (2.0L)

The current, outgoing generation Camry is only sold in Malaysia in one 2.5-litre regular petrol variant, imported from Thailand (CBU). Elsewhere, a 2.5-litre hybrid is also offered, but UMWT doesn't sell this variant here because local taxes would've amplified the increase in prices. The current Camry 2.5V is already asking for a very high RM 219,800.

The new 2024 Toyota Camry, which is not a new generation model but a major update of the current model, has already been previewed in China featuring a smaller, more affordable 2.0-litre hybrid.

Also read: 2024 Toyota Camry previewed in China; gets 2.0L NA and hybrid; lower starting price equals RM 114k

This smaller engine capacity, lower priced, Camry 2.0 Hybrid fits nicely into Toyota's hybrid push for this region. 

Since our excise tax is based on engine capacity, downsizing from a 2.5-litre to a 2.0-litre engine helps limit the price increase for the hybrid variant compared to the regular 2.5-litre petrol variant. Additionally, the hybrid's two-motor setup will boost driving performance, keeping it on par with the regular 2.5-litre variant.