Toyota Etios Liva Small Car India launch in June

Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) will launch the much awaited Etios Liva small car next month as per the company’s schedule announced earlier.

“We are now all set to launch the Etios Liva. The launch will be as per schedule in the last week of June,” Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), TKM was quoted as saying by the PTI.

Toyota Etios Liva is the small car (hatchback) version of Etios sedan currently sold in the country, and will be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine while the diesel version will be launched in 2012. Also read: Toyota Etios LIVA – the Etios hatchback!

Expected to be priced at around Rs. 4.5 lakh, the Liva will be the cheapest model in TKM’s product line-up. The Liva measures 3775 mm X 1695 mm X 1490 mm (length x width x height).

The interiors of the Liva will offer maximum user space, maximum rear leg room and comfortable seating for 5 adults. The cars roomy interiors will set a benchmark in the segment, according to experts.

Competition

Maruti Swift and Ritz, Hyundai i10 and i20, Tata Indica Vista, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra and Fiat Punto will face a tough competition once the Etios Liva is launched this June. Also read: Toyota Etios Liva vs Honda Brio, Suzuki Swift and the rest: Comparison

TKM has also announced that it will resume normal production in India from May 20^th after it was forced to cut down production due to component supply constraints following the tsunami and earthquake in Japan in March 2011.

Earlier, TKM announced that it would cut down 70% of its production during April 25 to June 4^th. But since most parts will be arriving in the near future, the company is confident of resuming its operations earlier than expected.

“We lost about 10,000 units of production across all models. Because of the production drop, the revenue loss was on an average Rs 6,50,000 per vehicle,” Shekar Viswanathan, Deputy Managing Director (Commercial), TKM, has been quoted as saying by the PTI.

The production loss of 10,000 units translated to roughly Rs. 650 crore. The company plans to recover the loss of production by functioning on all weekdays and some Saturdays as well. Related: Toyota’s India car production cut down

As the company is resuming full production in a couple of days, the waiting period for Toyota customers, especially those who booked Etios and Fortuner will be reduced. At present the Etios and Fortuner demand a waiting period of four months.

Toyota production capacity

Currently, TKM produces cars such as the Etios sedan, Innova MPV, Corolla Altis sedan and Fortuner SUV at its first production plant near Bangalore which has the capacity to produce 80,000 units per year. TKM’s new (second) plant has been set up with an investment of Rs. 3,200 crore. The capacity of this plant is 70,000 units per annum and this plant is dedicated for the production of Etios sedan as well as the Liva small car.