Toyota likely to launch 'diesel' variant by Dec 2011

World's largest car maker Toyota is likely to launch the "diesel" variant of much-anticipated entry level sedan Etios in India by December 2011, a company official said here today.

"Right now we are studying on that... Hopefully, by next December (it will be launched)," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Director (Marketing) and Executive Managing Coordinator Koji Nagata told reporters here.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, also planned to increase localisation level of Etios to 90 per cent by 2012.

"Currently, it is 70 per cent.. When we commence our production at our engine plant it will be around 90 per cent.. but that will be after 2012..," he said after unveiling the entry-level sedan Etios in Tamil Nadu market.

At present, for Etios range of models, the company is importing the engine and gear transmission from its parent company in Tokyo, he said.

Early this year, Toyota announced its plans to begin production of engines in the third quarter of 2012 that would help increase the localisation content of the Etios range of models. The company has invested Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility at Bidadi near Bangalore mainly to produce Etios range, including its hatchback Etios Liva.

While the entry-level sedan Etios (diesel variant) would be launched in December next, the hatchback model would be unveiled in April 2011.

At its Bangalore unit,the firm manufactures premium SUV Fortuner, premium sedan Corolla Altis and SUV Innova.

On sales targets, Toyota Kirloskar Motor General Manager (Sales Division) Sailesh Shetty said they were expecting to sell about 70,000 units of Etios models, including the hatchback variant.

"We are aiming to sell about 70,000 units next year.It will be a combination of both (hatchback and sedan variants)", he told PTI.

South India contributes 38-40 per cent of total sales for Toyota with Tamil Nadu holding the largest market,he said.

The Etios model, which was officially launched on December 1 across the country, has got an order bookings of 6,000 units with a waiting period of up to six months, he said.

In Chennai, the Etios sedan would be available in four variants --J, G, V and VX priced from Rs 4.83 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai)for the base model to Rs 6.74 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai)for the top end model.

The company has launched the car with a 1.5 litre petrol engine, with plans to introduce a small car variant of the model with 1.2 litre petrol engine next year.