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 launchthe diesel variants of its small car Liva and sedan Etios in India nextweek. 

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

"Yes, we are launching the diesel variants ofthe 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 detailssuch as engine specifications and price, saying these information will beannounced 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 areramping up the production volume to 6,800-7,000 units by the October that willinclude the diesel versions also." 

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

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

The company has so far sold about 30,000 units ofthe two models since their respective launches. Etios is powered by a 1.5 litrepetrol engine, while Live runs on a 1.2 litre petrol engine. The engines areimported 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 pricesare according to the website of the firm and are for ex-showroom, Delhi. 

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

The capacity at the first plant will be hiked to1,00,000 units from 90,000 units, while the output at the second plant will beincreased to 2,10,000 units from 1,20,000 units. 
TKM is at present expanding the capacity at thetwo facilities in Bangaloreto 2.1 lakh units from 1.5 lakh units by 2012. 

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

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