Toyota postpones Indian car plant inauguration due to tsunami

Japanese carmaker Toyota today said it has postponed the official inauguration of its second Indian manufacturing facility at Bangalore in view of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, has invested Rs 3,200 crore to set up a car facility that rolls out its sedan Etios, which was launched in December last year. The small car version Liva with a 1.2 litre petrol engine will hit the roads in April.

"Under the circumstances, we have decided on the postponement of the grand opening ceremony of our second plant, scheduled to be held on March 15, 2011," Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said in a statement.

TKM employees working in Japan with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are safe and the firm has constituted a task force to monitor the situation, he added.

 Yesterday, the gushing waters following the 8.9- magnitude quake, the most powerful since the 1923 tremor in Great Kanto area in Tokyo, swept houses, overturned ships, vehicles and set ablaze several buildings, including a petrochemical plant.

It has so far left 1,600 people dead or unaccounted for.

"We wish to advise that most of the plants of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) are not affected at this point of time. We are, however, assessing the extent of damage to operations of our affiliates, dealer partners and supplier partners located in the affected areas," Nakagawa said.

The company has received hundreds of messages expressing sympathy and support for the affected people in Japan.

"We extend our condolences to those who have been bereaved by this tragic event, and our support and sympathy to the millions who are suffering as a result of this natural calamity and nature's fury," he said.