Toyota Etios bookings to begin soon

The hatchback market is all set to get another player this December. One of the world’s leading carmaker Toyota is all set to launch its first ever hatchback and sedan model in the country – Toyota Etios. The company has a lot riding on the success of the model as the Indian car market is largely dominated by hatchbacks and small cars. According to media reports the company is targeting to sell 65,000 units next year.

The company has decided to launch the Etios next month in Bangalore and the bookings for the car are slated to start in the first week of December. The company would be bringing the Etios sedan first this December, which will be followed by the hatchback version of the car three months later.

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The Toyota Etios hatchback will be Toyota’s very first hatch in the country. It has been designed keeping in mind Indian requirements. The car will be powered by a DOHC 16-valve engine with 1200cc displacement. It will come at an attractive price of about Rs 5 lakh (ex-showroom).

Toyota Etios is going to be launched both as a hatchback and as a saloon with 1.2 litre and 1.5 litre petrol engines respectively. The company is contemplating bringing a diesel engine for the Etios after the launch.

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To keep the pricing competitive the Toyota Etios has been localised upto 70 per cent. This helps in keeping the price low and to further reduce the overall cost of owning and maintenance. The strategy has been deployed keeping in mind the cost-sensitiveness of the Indian market.

Toyota Kirloskar Group has invested Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in Bangalore. The facility would be initially churning out 70,000 units. The capacity would be increased to up to two lakh units later.

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The company has chosen country’s musical legend A R Rahman as Toyota Etios’ brand ambassador. In a statement given to the media company spokesperson said, “A R Rahman is the right person for our product. We hope to take advantage of this musical genius for our Etios.”Right now Toyota’s Indian portfolio has cars like – Toyota Corolla Altis, Toyota Camry, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado and utility vehicle Toyota Innova.