Car News in India

Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota has announced that the production of their Etios sedan would start at the end of the year 2010. Toyota Etios is being positioned at the entry level sedan in the Indian market.

Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said “Etios means spirit and principle. This car of ours is targeted at the middle level managers and young professionals and will be priced competitively.” He added “The manufacturing capacity is spread over 425 acre and based on the customer response after the Etios rolls out, the manufacturing capacity of the plant could be increased to nearly 200,000 units per year.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motors would be launching the Etios sedan with 1.5 liters and the hatchback with 1.2 liters petrol engine under the Toyota Etios series. The price of the cars would be decided a few days prior to the launch.

It is estimated that the price of the Etios hatchback would be in the league of Maruti Swift and Ritz and the Etios sedan would be priced to compete with Tata Indigo Manza and Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire.

Toyota sells its cars in India through a joint venture with Kirloskar Group. Toyota has invested more than Rs 3,200 crore to set up its manufacturing facility in Bangalore with an initial capacity of 70,000 units per year.

Toyota wants to make its presence known in the hatchback and entry-level sedan segment in India through its Etios project.