Kuozui Motors, a joint venture between Toyota and Hotai Motor, has expanded its production operations in Taiwan to include two new MPVs, the Noah and Voxy, primarily to meet demand in the Japanese market.

The new production lines officially commenced operations in October, and the production and export figures for the first month have now been released.

- Production officially underway: Kuozui Motors began manufacturing the Noah and Voxy in October. As October marked the first month of production, output is expected to increase gradually as the new production lines reach full capacity.

- Major export commitment: The company expects to supply approximately 30,000 Noah and Voxy vehicles to Japan annually.

- Unified 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain: Following the facelift introduced in the Japanese market, the previous 2.0-litre petrol engine was discontinued. Both models are now exclusively available with a 1.8-litre hybrid system producing a combined output of 140 PS.

- Manufactured in Taiwan, but not for the domestic market: Despite being manufactured in Taiwan, there are currently no plans to introduce left-hand-drive versions, meaning that local consumers are unlikely to have the opportunity to purchase either model.

Made in Taiwan: Toyota's production expansion

According to the domestic vehicle production and sales statistics for October released by the Taiwan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Kuozui Motors has added two new models to its production records: the Noah 1.8 HV and Voxy 1.8 HV.

Although the Noah and Voxy share the same underlying platform, they cater to different customer preferences. The Noah features a relatively understated, family-oriented design, with an emphasis on practicality, while the Voxy has a more distinctive and modern appearance, with styling aimed at buyers seeking a sportier design.

Both models received a facelift in April this year, with the powertrain being one of the major updates. The previous 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine was discontinued, leaving the 1.8-litre hybrid system as the sole powertrain option. The system produces a combined output of 140 PS, with both front-wheel-drive and E-Four all-wheel-drive configurations available in Japan.

Annual export target

According to previous reports, Kuozui Motors plans to supply approximately 30,000 Noah and Voxy vehicles to the Japanese market annually, equivalent to an average of around 2,500 units per month.

However, as the dedicated production lines officially commenced operations only in October, the initial figures represent the early stages of production. Output is expected to increase as manufacturing capacity is gradually ramped up.

With both models now being manufactured in Taiwan and exported to Japan, their potential availability in the domestic market may be of interest to local consumers. However, the manufacturer currently has no plans to produce left-hand-drive versions. Consequently, despite being manufactured in Taiwan, the Noah and Voxy are not expected to be offered in the local market.