No plans for a smaller car in India : Toyota

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has cleared the rumors about launching a new small car in India besides its prospective compact hatchback Toyota Etios. A senior executive of the company stated on Wednesday that Toyota has no plans for a car smaller than Etios. A few days back, a section of media had reported that TKM is eying on launching a new small car in the Indian market and will be shelved in the sub Rs 3 lakh segment.

While briefing to the reporters about the pre-order booking status of Toyota Fortuner model, Mr Sandeep Singh, Deputy managing director of the company said that TKM had taken 2,500 more orders for its locally assembled Fortuner SUV since booking was reopened this month. He was speaking on the sidelines of the launching ceremony of the diesel version of its premium sedan corolla Altis in India.

Meanwhile, the company has announced that it will inaugurate its second production shift in India in December this year.The prospective facility is currently under construction near Bangalore where the company has invested heavily (around Rs 3,200 crore). The plant will have an initial manufacturing capacity of 70,000 units and most of it will be used in the production of Toyota's India bound small car Toyota Etios.

TKM currently has an annual manufacturing capacity of about 80,000 units at its existing facility in India. It currently assembles all of its volume-driving cars in the Indian market at this plant including MUV Toyota Innova, premium sedan Toyota Corolla Altis and luxury SUV Toyota Fortuner whereas the remaining India portfolio cars of the company including Toyota Camry, Toyota Prado, Toyota  Land Cruiser and Toyota Prius are imported as completely built-up units (CBU).

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