Toyota Etios Contest - Win Many Prizes

Toyota Q World is visiting 15 major cities of India displaying the Toyota Etios hatchback and sedan model. Cartrade brings you an exclusive report on Toyota Q World in Indore.

“World First, India First” is what Toyota is flashing across major cities of India where its upcoming small car model Etios is being displayed. The model will go into commercial production from December 2010 and will be available in the market by the same time.. The model was unveiled in Indore amidst much fanfare at the Rajpal Toyota dealership where the occasion was graced by Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors which is the Indian arm of Toyota Motors Corp. Also, present were Shekhar Vishwanathan, Deputy MD, Commercial, Sailesh Shetty, GM- Sales, Ashok Rajpal, Dealer Principal and Rakesh Rajpal, Executive Director, Rajpal Toyota, Indore.

“Etios will generate many more happy customers and will become a major player in India,” Nakagawa said while addressing the press. “Our vision is to be one of the most loved and admired companies in India in years to come,” he stated further. Toyota is a leading player in the global market but in India it still lacks a major presence in the mass market.

Shekhar Vishwanathan stated that Toyota conducted a market research in 2006 where it was inferred that Indian car buyers need quality compact cars at affordable price. Toyota was perceived as a trouble free and quality brand but price was a concern. Thus, the concept of Toyota Etios was conceived which was based on launching a car that was bold and yet simple and gave a feeling of luxury and status at an affordable cost.

Toyota Etios has been developed on a new platform and has a completely new engine which is not present in any Toyota car so far. Etios means Spirit and Principle which Toyota intends to give to its customers in India. The car will be first launched in India and then will be sold in global market unlike any recent entrants which are first introduced in overseas markets and then developed in India.

Sailesh Shetty stated that Toyota is targeting new age customers which comprise of middle management, self-employed and urban dwellers. Its primary aim is lure existing hatchback and sedan customers looking for luxury at affordable cost. He also said that Toyota is revamping its dealerships across India based on DIVA concept. It currently has 101 dealerships across the country but will have 150 dealerships by end 2010.

'Maruti Swift and Swift sedan will be our main competitors in the market,' Nakagawa said. He also stated that the company will announced the final price of the model just before the launch looking at the competitor movements.

Toyota Etios