NEW TOYOTA ETIOS TO BE LAUNCHED IN INDIA

NEW TOYOTA ETIOS-2010 SMALL CAR TO BE LAUNCHED IN INDIA

TOYOTA ETIOS PRICE

RS:4-8 LAKHS

Ex-Showroom Delhi

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd, the Indian unit of Japan's Toyota Motor Corp, is investing about Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in Bangalore by early 2011.

"With the introduction of the Etios we will enter the mass volume segment. We are looking at a sales volume of 70,000 (cars) in the first year," said Hiroshi Nakagawa, managing director of Toyota Kirloskar.

Speaking to reporters, Toyota Motor Corp Vice Chairman Kazuo Okamoto said, "We are very excited to finally showcase the concept of Etios, which has been newly developed specifically for customers in India."

"After the slowdown, we are now in a difficult situation and we are trying to achieve constant recovery. The Indian market is very important and big for Toyota and it is expected to grow up to four million units by 2015," Okamoto added.

The much awaited small car, or rather cars, considering both the sedan and the hatchback variants, was among the first unveilings of the 2010 Auto Expo here at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The Etios represents the new approach being adopted by big international auto manufacturers where rather than just bring in global models and hope they work in this country, cars specifically with India, and the needs of Indian customers in mind are being developed. Toyota's philosophy for the Etios is 'World first, India first' as the car(s) being developed will first be launched in India before it makes its world debut.

Powering the sedan version of the Etios is a 1.5-litre petrol engine while the hatchback will receive a 1.2-litre petrol motor. Both engines are all-new and have been specifically designed for Indian conditions, so high mileage was a key factor in the design. Present at the unveiling of these two concepts were top officials from the Toyota Motor Corporation including vice-chairman Kazuo Okamoto and Senior Managing Director, Akira Okabe. Speaking on the occasion, Kazuo Okamoto commented "Our highest priority will be to make every effort to exceed the Indian customers' expectations and the introduction of the Etios concept today is the first step in this direction." Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor said "With the introduction of the Etios, Toyota will enter the mass volume segment and we are looking at a sales volume of 70,000 units in the first year."

Stay tuned to ZigWheels as we bring you more information of the Toyota Etios during the 2010 Auto Expo and beyond.

The largest car maker in the worldToyota today announced their plans to sell a new car Etios in India. Etios was announced by the Vice president of Toyota, Mr. Kazuo Okamoto who attended the 2010 Auto Expo at Delhi today. Toyota Etios is the special small car built for India and few other selected markets. ToyotaEtios will be manufactured in both hatchback and sedan variants. In both segment they will have 1.2 lite and 1.5 litres petrol engines. Toyotademonstrated a blue color Etios model at Delhi auto Expo 2010. The launch date of Etiosis not yet confirmed. But it would be around the end 2010.