Toyota Kijang Innova it is a legendary Toyota automotive product in Indonesia that is still being produced and exists today. The latest Kijang Innova model with hybrid engine will also be launched next week. But does anyone know the meaning of the name “Kijang”?
Quoted from the book History of cars and stories of the car’s presence in this country by James Luhulima, Toyota Kijang was first launched in Indonesia in 1977. At that time, Kijang came with BUV concept or Basic utility vehicle.
The Kijang, which at that time appeared in the form of a pickup, was developed with other BUVs such as the Datsun Sena, Volkswagen Mitra and Dodge Immaginani. But the development of the three BUVs was interrupted by their main one, so Kijang was finally free to walk alone in this segment.
Common people might think that the name Deer refers to an Indonesian endemic animal that is a relative of the deer. Especially on one of the Toyota Kijang models, there is a logo or emblem depicting the silhouette of a Kijang with its characteristic flowering horns.
Meaning of the name Toyota Kijang which happens to be an abbreviation
But it turns out that the name “Kijang” has another meaning that describes the relationship between Indonesia and Japan. As quoted by the official website of the Indonesian Automobile Industries Association (Gaikindo), Kijang is an abbreviation or acronym for “Indonesian Japan Cooperation”.
“The name “Kijang” is an abbreviation of the phrase “Indonesia-Japan Cooperation”. The Toyota Kijang came about because the New Order government led by President Soeharto issued the KNBS (Multipurpose Commercial Motor Vehicles) program in the early 1970s.,” to write Gaikindo.
“The goal is to create affordable domestically produced commercial vehicles so that they can be purchased by the general public as a means of transporting and distributing goods. This policy has been welcomed by a number of automotive brands such as Datsun, Volkswagen, General Motors and Toyota,” he continued.
In its development, the Toyota Kijang also underwent a transformation from a commercial vehicle to a family vehicle, with the concept of Multi Purpose Vehicle or MPV. The Toyota Kijang name has also received the additional name “Innova” since 2004.
Retracing its history, the Toyota Kijang Innova has been present in Indonesia for six generations under various public names. They started from Kijang ‘Crocodile’ (1977-1981), Kijang ‘Doyok’ (1981-1986), Kijang Super (1986-1996), Kijang ‘Kapsul’ (1986-2004), then Kijang Innova (2004-2015), at Kijang Innova Reborn (2015-present).
Toyota Kijang Innova will also be updated again with a more environmentally friendly engine. The latest Innova will reportedly be injected with a hybrid engine. In addition, it will also be equipped with a large panoramic sunroof.
Watch a video “Why was Innova chosen by Toyota to be “electrified”?“
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
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