Toyota not accepting fresh bookings for Fortuner

The suspension of bookings of Toyota Fortuner will continue for some more time, with demand for as many as 5,000 units still pending, a top official of Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) said here today.

"The initial production of 400 units per month has been increased to 1,000 units. Still we are not able to meet the demand. We are analysing the situation and will take steps to accept bookings," Sailesh Shetty, general manager (sales) Toyota Kirloskar, said without divulging further details.

He said there was demand for around 5,000 units within eight days since its launch and currently the waiting period runs up to six months.

Also, there is no proposal to source vehicles from some other country as the tax component is as high as 106 per cent on imported vehicles, Shetty said.

Launched in August last year, the Fortuner has received robust response from the market and has so far sold around 6,500 units.

Meanwhile, Toyota is aiming high and plans to capture 10 per cent of the market share by 2015 against three per cent at present.

The company sold 55,000 units last year and targets to sell 70,000 units this fiscal, he said.

The company which is banking largely on the yet-to-launch Etios, aims to make 70,000 units in the second plant that is coming up at Badadi. The vehicle is expected to be launched in December this year.

Shetty said Etios has been designed as an Indian car and may be exported to other countries.

He also said the present dealer network at 99 would be increased to 150 by the end of 2010.