Toyota to launch diesel variants of Etios, Liva- Etios Liva.

 News  Dated: Saturday, September 3, 2011 9:8 hrs IST 

 New Delhi: Japanese car maker Toyota said it will launch the diesel variants of its small car Liva and sedan Etios in India next week. 

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, had introduced the petrol versions of Etios last year, while Liva was rolled out in June this year. 

"Yes, we are launching the diesel variants of the two cars on September 9. We aimed to introduce the two versions in August, but had to postpone by a month due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan," Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director Sandeep Singh (Marketing) told PTI. 

He, however, declined to share further details such as engine specifications and price, saying these information will be announced on the day of launch. 

When asked about the production plans, Singh said: "At present we are making about 6,000 units of Etios and Liva. We are ramping up the production volume to 6,800-7,000 units by the October that will include the diesel versions also." 

On waiting period of the two models, he said the Etios is available almost off-the-shelf but Liva will have a waiting period of up to one month. 

Singh had earlier said the company is planning to sell 60,000 units of both Etios and Liva, of which over 20,000 units are likely to be Liva. 

The company has so far sold about 30,000 units of the two models since their respective launches. Etios is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine, while Live runs on a 1.2 litre petrol engine. The engines are imported from Japan. 

The Etios is priced at Rs 4.99 lakh-Rs 6.97 lakh, while the Liva is available between Rs 3.99 lakh and Rs 5.99 lakh. The prices are according to the website of the firm and are for ex-showroom, Delhi. 

Last month, the company had announced an investment of nearly Rs 1,650 crore to ramp up the production capacity by one lakh units and for increasing localisation of components by 2014. 

The capacity at the first plant will be hiked to 1,00,000 units from 90,000 units, while the output at the second plant will be increased to 2,10,000 units from 1,20,000 units. 
TKM is at present expanding the capacity at the two facilities in Bangalore to 2.1 lakh units from 1.5 lakh units by 2012. 

The firm has invested Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility with an initial installed capacity of 70,000 units per annum, which is now being expanded to 1.2 lakh units annually. 

The company had also announced to set up an engine plant and expand its transmissions capacity to cater to demand for the Etios and Liva with a combined investment of Rs 500 crore.