About Toyota (IMC)

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC), and several House of Habib firms from Pakistan jointly operate the venture known as Indus Motor Company Limited (IMC). They founded the company in 1989 and currently assembling and selling automobiles under the Toyota brand in Pakistan. Toyota Indus Motors started its strategy to enter Pakistan’s highly profitable small hatchback industry in the year 2000. IMC released the 800 cc hatchback ‘Coure’ in Pakistan after entering a technical assistance arrangement with the Daihatsu Motor Company. This car immediately gained a reputation in the hatchback segment and received a massive response from consumers. Daihatsu Cuore remains in production till 2011-12. In Sedan segments, The Toyota Corolla has seen multiple generations in Pakistan, each with its own unique features and improvements.

Toyota Corolla Generations in Pakistan
A Symbolic Sedan!

Introduction

Toyota Corolla is a name that resonates with generations of Pakistani car enthusiasts. Since its inception in the 1960s, the Corolla has been a symbol of reliability, affordability, and innovation. In this blog, we’ll journey through the generations of the Toyota Corolla in Pakistan, showcasing its evolution over the years.

Toyota Corolla (1^st Generation / E10: 1966)

The first-generation Toyota Corolla made its debut in Pakistan in the late 1960s. It was a small, compact car that quickly gained popularity due to its fuel efficiency and affordable price tag. This Corolla E10 had a rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, and a wheelbase that measured 90 inches. The vehicle’s 1.1 liter, four-cylinder K pushrod engine produced 60 horsepower. The vehicle had a simple structure, available in two-door and four-door configurations for coupe and sedan styles. The early Corollas in Pakistan were known for their simplicity and durability, making them a common sight on the roads.

Toyota Corolla (2^nd Generation / E20: 1970)

The second-generation Corolla brought with it a more modern design at the time and improved performance. This era marked the beginning of the Corolla’s dominance in the Pakistani automotive market. People adored the Corolla for its comfy ride and roomy interior.

The E20 Corolla featured an upgraded 1.2-liter OHV 73-horsepower engine, automatic transmission, and a longer 91.9-inch wheelbase, with a more appealing, rounded exterior.

Toyota Corolla (3^rd Generation / E30-E60: 1974)

The third-generation Corolla, from E30-E60, Consumers had access to a wide range of Corolla cars during the lifetime of this generation. The Corollas came in a variety of body styles, including a two-door hardtop, a four-door sedan, a five-door wagon, and revisions to the exterior that made some versions of the car longer and heavier. continued to build on the success of its predecessors.

These variants were compatible with engines ranging from the 1.2-liter 3K I4 to, in rare cases, the 1.6-liter 12T I4 type. In Pakistan, it gained a reputation for its robust build quality and low maintenance costs. Many Pakistani households had made Corolla a staple, often passing it down from one generation to the next. With annual sales of up to 300,000 automobiles, they named the third generation of the Toyota Corolla the world’s best-selling car at that time.

Toyota Corolla (4^th Generation / E70: 1979)

With the arrival of the fourth-generation Corolla, Toyota introduced a more streamlined and aerodynamic design. It was during this era that the Corolla’s popularity soared to new heights in Pakistan. The introduction of the 1.3-liter engine made it a favorite among local consumers, who appreciated the balance between performance and fuel economy with a primary focus on fuel efficiency.

The Corolla’s suspension was the first vehicle to use a four-link coil structure system that supported a lateral rod in order to provide stability while driving and comfort to the passengers at the same time.

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Toyota Corolla (5^th Generation / E80: 1983)

In 1983, the fifth-generation Corolla (E80) was launched. This Corolla was the first to switch to front-wheel drive (FWD). The fifth-gen Corolla featured upgraded engines with more power, paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota made an effort to connect the new young-type car with certain looks of the previous models. Therefore, they developed the Corollas of this era using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology for the first time. The Corolla models launched during this time came standard with power windows, power steering, a sunroof, and door mirrors.

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Toyota Corolla (6^th Generation / E90: 1987)

Toyota Corolla’s sixth generation (E90) was assembled from 1987 to 1992. 6th generation Corolla, a variety of innovative, high-quality engines were created, including the High-Mecha Twin Cam system, which delivered world-class performance and efficiency. Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS), a brand-new suspension system that adapts to the driving environment (for Corollas in the racing series), was created for the E90 series.

The 6th generation E90 Toyota Corolla is one of those popular models from the past. The 7th generation Toyota Corolla, which was domestically assembled starting in May 1993, replaced the last version of the Corolla that was entirely imported into Pakistan either as a new CBU or refurbished car. Indus Motor Company (IMC) was established in December 1989. It was the final Corolla generation to fall under the subcompact car category and the first come on a front-wheel drive(FWD) or all-wheel drive(AWD).

Toyota Corolla (7^th Generation / E100: 1991)

The fifth-generation Corolla, commonly referred to as the “Indus Corolla” in Pakistan debuted in 1991, marking a significant shift. Toyota began local assembly of the Corolla in collaboration with Indus Motors, further reducing its price. This move made the Corolla even more accessible to the Pakistani market. More powerful and efficient engines found their way under the hood. The E100 offered two diesel choices: a 2.0-liter 2C I4 and a 2.2-liter 3C-E I4, along with 4 to 6-speed manual and 3 to 4-speed automatic transmissions.

Indus Corolla became synonymous with reliability and value for money. The Corolla had firmly established itself as the go-to choice for Pakistani families and commuters. This Generation was produced for 9 years by Indus Motors in our Pakistani Market.

Toyota Corolla (8^th Generation / E110: 1995)

Production of the eighth generation of the Corolla (E110) started in 1995. This generation introduced a brand-new four-cylinder, 1.8-liter DOHC aluminum-body engine that achieved higher fuel efficiency than its predecessors. They introduced the redesigned Corolla in different trims, with updated headlight designs, smoother overall shapes, and equipped cars built in Japan or Europe with 6-speed transmissions.

Toyota Corolla has been the most popular sedan in Pakistan. Every Corolla generation has been successful in our market, but the 8th generation didn’t receive much attention. This is because Indus Motor Company (IMC) decided not to introduce it in the mid-1990s, and even though a few used JDM imports surfaced later, the general public never really embraced the 8th-generation Corolla.

Toyota Corolla (9^th Generation / E120-E130: 2002)

Following a lengthy 9-year production run of its predecessor, IMC chose not to produce the 8th generation Corolla for Pakistan and introduced the attractive 9th generation in 2002. When the 9th generation first hit the roads, it was one of the most popular car launches in our nation. The 9th generation was unique in several respects.

First locally built Corolla with a beige interior, an Optitron speedometer, and rear LED tail lamps. The most popular trims were the 1.3-liter XLi and GLi, while it also offered three diesel trims: the 2.0D, 2.0D SE, and 2.0D Saloon. In 2005, they introduced a minor update with a new grille and rear combination lights, and they phased out the 1.6-liter SE Saloon version in favor of the 1.8-liter Altis.

Toyota Corolla (10^th Generation / E140-E150: 2009)

Toyota launched the 10th generation in Pakistan in 2009, delivering significant improvements over the 9th generation. It offered superior handling, braking, stability, and ride quality, addressing the criticisms that were directed at the 9th generation. The 9th generation Corolla in Pakistan offered various options, including the 1.3-liter XLi and GLi, the 1.6-liter Altis with an inline-4 engine, and the Altis SR Cruistonic, available in both automatic and manual transmissions.

The first locally assembled one of the first Toyota Corolla generations in Pakistan featured Cruistonic and Sunroof in its top-of-the-line variants. In 2009, the 10th generation Toyota Corolla surpassed Suzuki Mehran to become Pakistan’s best-selling vehicle. IMC sold approximately 220,000 units of the 10th generation Corolla in Pakistan over its 6+ year production run.

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Toyota Corolla (11^th Generation / E170: 2014-Present)

IMC introduced the 11th generation Corolla in Pakistan in June 2014. Toyota offers three petrol engine types for the 11th generation: the 1.3-liter XLi, GLi, and 1.6-liter Altis, as well as the top-of-the-line 1.8 Altis Grande with a sunroof. Later on in 2020, Gli and Xli discontinued to give space to Toyota Yaris in Pakistan.

The 11th-gen Corolla joins the list of cars in Pakistan with over ten years without significant updates or modifications. The 11th-generation Corolla has undergone numerous facelifts throughout the years to help the business keep it looking modern. The first facelift debuted in August 2017; the second will follow in late 2020. The 12th-gen Toyota Corolla, introduced in November 2018, is now over three years old and undergoing a global facelift. Currently, Pakistan stands as the sole market in the world where the 11th-generation Toyota Corolla is still in production.

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Toyota Corolla Cross (Hybrid Electric/2023-Present)

IMC Launched a locally assembled Toyota Corolla Cross SUV in December 2023. Initially, IMC imports CBU units of the Toyota Corolla Cross in 2020. Indus Motors Company unveils the Corolla Cross in two variants: 1.8L HEV(MID) with an introductory price tag of Rs. 9,399,000, while the top-of-the-line Corolla Cross 1.8L HEV X(HI) with an introductory price tag of Rs. 9,849,000. The 2ZR-FXE 1.8L engine, which produces 142 Nm of torque and 98 horsepower, powers both variants. An extra 72 horsepower and 163 Nm are added to the setup by a 600-volt electric motor. This setup was also offered with the Corolla Cross models imported from CBU.

Prominent features in Corolla Cross are seven airbags, rain-sensing wipers, ABS with EBD and BA, VCS and TCS, HSA, Blind Spot Monitor, and Clearance Sonar + Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA). Additionally, It has leather seats, push-start functionality, dual-zone automatic climate control, powered seats, and a 9-inch floating infotainment system. To suit different driving needs, there are several driving modes available, such as EV, Eco, and Power.

Conclusion

The Toyota Corolla has carved a special place in the hearts of Pakistani car enthusiasts over the decades. Its evolution from an essential, compact car to a technologically advanced and stylish sedan reflects the changing automotive landscape in Pakistan. As the Corolla continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: its status as a beloved and trusted companion on Pakistani roads. Whether it’s a classic vintage model or the latest iteration, the Toyota Corolla will always hold a special place in the history of Pakistan’s automotive industry. Toyota Corolla generations have a strong resale value in Pakistan, making it an attractive choice for buyers who want a car that holds its value well over time.