Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Friday announced that the Etios series — Etios and Etios Liva — has clocked sales of 100,000 units. The company has achieved an important milestone since they entered the mass volume market in India. The Etios was launched in December, 2010, followed by Etios Liva in June 2011. Etios sold 50,157 units during the financial year 2011 - 2012, making it the third largest selling sedan in its segment.
TKM forayed into the export market with the first consignment of Etios being shipped to South Africa in April 2012. The company plans to export 20,000 units of Etios series per annum. To cater to the growing demand, the company also plans to ramp up production of the Etios series in its second plant at Bidadi, from the present production capacity of 120,000 units to 210,000 units in early 2013.
The domestic production of engine and transmission for the Etios and Etios Liva will be carried out at Toyota Kirloskar Auto parts. Approximately 100,000 engines will be produced per annum starting third quarter of 2012 and approximately 240,000 transmissions per year starting early 2013. With the production of these critical parts, the localisation ratio for Etios, presently around 70 per cent, is expected to cross 90 per cent.
In its endeavour to reach out to the maximum number of customers after the launch of the Etios and Etios Liva, the company has expanded its dealer network from 97 dealerships in 2009 to 175 outlets presently. The company further plans to expand it to 220 dealerships by early next year. TKM is looking at improving its reach and is targeting to set up 25 additional outlets out of the targeted outlets in semi-urban and rural areas this year.
Commenting on the occasion, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, TKM, said, “With the launch of Etios, TKM embarked on a very important and challenging journey and this is an important milestone. We thank the 100,000 happy customers who have trusted the brand and appreciated it. Despite unforeseen and unfortunate events like tsunami in Japan and the floods in Thailand, we have been able to achieve the 100,000 mark.”
