Forced by less expensive entries to go to a "luxury" position for what is a Toyota B-car.
Toyota Motor Corporation in India has unveiled a so called concept version of the “Etios,” a subcompact car developed specifically for the growing Indian market, which is now running at more than 1.5 million units a year.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private, Ltd. (TKM) is showing Etios at the 10th Auto Expo automobile show in New Delhi, which runs until January 11.
Toyota is a bit player in India, selling about 70,000 cars annually, while Maruti Suzuki India controls 50% of the market and sells ten times more vehicles.
The Etios is said to be aimed at family users in India’s rapidly growing automobile market. A sedan with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a hatchback version with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine will be offered when TKM produces the Etios in December 2010 at its second plant, now being built for production of the new car.
Annual sales in India are predicted to be 70,000 units. And, yes, exports to as yet unspecified destinations are planned.
The largest auto company in the world is a bit player in the growing Indian market.
“I visited many Indian cities and homes to learn the market and to hear from the consumer directly,” said Etios chief engineer, Yoshinori Noritake. Over four years, more than 2,000 engineers have been involved in the development of the Etios, and each has devoted his or her best effort with no compromises.”
Etios is expected to be priced starting at about $12,000 far above the $2,500 Tata Nana, which — potentially– rewrites the rulebook for Asian, if not global, automotive marketing.
Perhaps a better comparison – Toyota hopes – is the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the largest selling sedan –almost 100,000 annually, in the entry-level segment. The entry price for a Dzire is Rs 5.5 lakh or about $12,000.