The mini MPV segment in one of the most lucrative spaces in Indonesia. The Suzuki Ertiga is doing very well there, so much so that Mazda got the Ertiga from Suzuki and rebadged it as VX-1. Ask the Toyota Innova, Daihatsu Xenia, Toyota Avanza and Nissan Evalia how they feel in Indonesia, and you'd know that this is the dream destination for any automaker with a MPV model to sell.
Honda Prospect Motor, the Indonesian subsidiary of the Japanese giant is today in the process of getting another compact MPV ready. The new Ertiga rival from Honda follows the very same recipe - it is based on a hatchback to check costs.
As per the statement made by Mr. Jonfis Fandy, Director of Marketing and after sales services at PT Honda Prospect Motor to Autos.okezone.com, the Karawang factory in West Java will soon be ready for production and the Brio MPV will be the first one to be made there.
Mr. Fandy says that the Brio MPV will coexist with Freed MPV since they cover different segments just like the Brio and Jazz hatchbacks.
The Brio may also be master brand of MPV offspring. Following the Brio Amaze, would we see the Brio Awe, Brio Astound or Brio Bewilder? ;-)
The Brio based MPV is expected to grace Indonesia by early 2014 after which it will slowly sneak into other Southeast Asian countries including India.
In India, the car is expected to be positioned bang in the Ertiga territory and come with the life-saving 1.5 litre i-DTEC EarthDreams diesel engine which premieres on the Honda Brio Amaze saloon in two months' time.
[Source: autos.okezone.com; Render from TheoPhilusChin.com]
