Etios Series Clocks One Lakh Unit Sales

May 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced that the Etios series - Etios and Etios Liva - has clocked sales of one lakh units. The company has achieved an important milestone since they entered the mass volume market in India. The Etios was launched in December 2010 followed by Etios Liva in June 2011. Etios sold 50,157 units in the financial year 2011 - 2012, making it the third largest selling sedan in its segment.

Etios - ‘World First, India First, My First’ is Toyota’s first product made especially for the Indian market. TKM forayed into the export market with the first consignment of   Etios shipped to South Africa in April 2012. The company plans to export 20,000 units of Etios series per annum. To cater to the growing demand, the company also plans to ramp up the production of the Etios series in its second plant at Bidadi , from the current production capacity of 1,20,000 units to 2,10,000  units in early 2013.

The domestic production of engine and transmission for the Etios and Etios Liva will be carried out at Toyota Kirloskar Auto parts. Approximately 100,000 engines will be produced per year starting in the third quarter of 2012 and approximately 240,000 transmissions per year starting in early 2013.  With the production of these critical parts, the localization ratio for Etios, currently around 70%, is expected to cross 90%.
In its endeavor to reach out to maximum customers after the launch of the Etios and Etios Liva, the company has expanded its dealer network from 97 dealerships in 2009 to 175   outlets currently. The company further plans to expand it to 220 dealerships by early next year. TKM is looking at improving its reach and is targeting at setting up 25 additional outlets out of the targeted outlets in semi urban and rural areas this year.

Commenting on the occasion Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, TKM said “With the launch of Etios, TKM embarked on a very important and challenging journey and this is an important milestone. We thank the one lakh happy customers who have trusted the brand and also appreciated it. Despite unforeseen and unfortunate events like tsunami in Japan and the floods in Thailand, we have been able to achieve the One Lakh mark. We wish to give the common man an opportunity to drive a Toyota vehicle and we look forward to serving the Indian society by making more quality vehicles.”

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM added “We are delighted to touch the One Lakh mark. The number reflects how the Etios family has grown and how Etios and Etios Liva has become a household brand in India. Customers have owned and appreciated the vehicles and we are constantly incorporating their feedback to be able to serve them better.   This is a small yet very important milestone in this large project that will place TKM on a higher pedestal in the global operations of Toyota.”