A Message To The West? PM Modi And Putin Rode In Indian-assembled Toyota Fortuna During Visit To India

A Message to the West? PM Modi and Putin rode in Indian-assembled Toyota Fortuna during Russian President’s visit to India.

Why ride in a Fortuner when Modi’s presidential fleet boasts of more luxurious Range Rover and a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Vladimir Putin upon his arrival of the Russian president at the Palam Airport in Delhi on Thursday December 4, ahead of their India-Russia annual summit on Friday December 5th.

In a video shared on social media on Thursday, Putin and Modi were seen sharing a ride at the back seat of a Toyota Fortuna SUV – in a show symbolising the strengthening friendship between India and Russia.

“We have agreed on an Economic Cooperation Programme till 2030 in order to diversify our trade and investment linkages. We talked about improving connectivity, enhancing relations in shipbuilding, skills, energy, critical minerals and much more,” Modi wrote in a post on his official Facebook page.

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As expected, the footage of Modi and Putin travelling in a ‘common’ Toyota Fortuner SUV received significant media attention, when Modi’s presidential fleet boasts of more luxurious Range Rover SUV and a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

Citing some local media, the move to ride in non-European, locally manufactured Toyota Fortuner was symbolic—given the pressure both India and Russia face from Western nations over the Ukraine war.

Some experts points to practicality, stating that the Indian-assembled Hilux-based Fortuner comes standard with an extra row of seating for interpreters, a feature that is optionally available in Range Rover SUV.

During his two-day state visit to India, Putin also rode in his Russian-made Aurus Senat L700 limousine, which had been his official vehicle since ditching his German-made Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard Pullman to reduce Russia’s dependence on imported goods.

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