Auto Expo: Want Etios buyers to upgrade to Yaris, says Toyota Kirloskar MD

Akito Tachibana, managing director, Toyota Kirloskar, touches upon the rationale of bringing the model to India

After focussing on the premium segment for almost a decade, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has entered the entry-level sedan market with the Yaris. The mid-size sedan is expected to go on sale by the middle of this year and will compete with the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Suzuki Ciaz, among others. Akito Tachibana, managing director, Toyota Kirloskar, talks to Shally Seth Mohile about the domestic automobile market and electric vehicles. Edited excerpts.

You are introducing a model in the volume segment after a gap of eight years, what has been the trigger? Aren't you late?

I don't think we are