Toyota Kirloskar Motors is on schedule to launch its small car model Etios in the Indian market. The car is expected to hit the showrooms by early 2011. It received rave reviews when it was first showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo earlier this year. "Our compact car Etios, which has been specially designed and developed for the Indian market, will be launched in the first quarter of 2011, as our second plant is scheduled to go on stream by this year-end," said Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd (TKML) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa.
Apart from the launch of its new model, Toyota is also exploring possibilities of setting up a new R&D unit in India. Toyota’s R&D centers are currently located in Japan and Thailand. Now it seeks India as its next manufacturing hub for its cars and to develop new models and engines in the country.
Toyota also intends to set up a new engine facility for its cars manufactured in India and overseas. "If we have a chance, we should establish engine facility here in India also," said Nagakawa at the Global Investor’s meet organized by the Karnataka State Government.
