Toyota Etios hits one-lakh sales mark

Toyota Etios and Etios Liva have crossed the one-lakh mark in terms of combined units sold. The Etios saloon, which was launched in December 2010, managed to clock 50,157 units in the FY 2011-12. The Etios Liva hatchback was launched in June 2011.

Toyota started exporting the Etios to South Africa, with the first batch of cars shipped in April 2012. The company now plans to export 20,000 units of Etios and Liva annually. It also plans to ramp up the production of the Etios siblings at its second plant at Bidadi, from the current capacity of 1.2 lakh units to 2.1 lakh units by early 2013.

Production of the engine and transmission for these cars will be carried out at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts. By the second half of 2012, one-lakh engines will be produced per year, and around 2.4 lakh transmissions starting early 2013. This will help Toyota increase the localisation content of the Etios from 70 percent to around 90 percent. The Japanese carmaker is also planning to expand its dealer network from the current 175 outlets to 220 dealerships by early 2013. Toyota is now looking at setting up dealerships in the Tier II and Tier III cities.

Sandeep Singh, deputy MD - marketing, Toyota, said, “We are delighted to touch the one-lakh mark. The number reflects how the Etios family has grown and how Etios and Etios Liva have become a household brand in India. This is a small yet very important milestone in this large project that will place Toyota Kirloskar Motor on a higher pedestal in the global operations of Toyota.”