Toyota and Suzuki take hybrid route to co-develop a mid-sized SUV

Toyota to launch the Hyryder on July 1; Maruti's version is expected in August

The five-year-old alliance between Japanese auto majors Suzuki and Toyota is all set to launch its first model for which the latter has provided hybrid technology. The mid-size hybrid SUV is for India and select global markets and will be produced at Toyota’s Bengaluru plant. The production will start in August.

As part of the alliance, Toyota currently sells Maruti Suzuki’s Baleno as Glanza and Vitara Brezza as Urban Cruiser.  

For Maruti Suzuki, the model is critical in its struggle for regaining the lost ground in the SUV segment from rivals Hyundai, Kia, and Tata Motors. The SUV segment is