Toyota begins feasibility study on small car

Earlier, TKML managing director Sachio Yamazaki said the study on small car which would be carried out along with the its parent company Toyota would be based on the changes in the Indian market, lifestyles and country’s economy.He said the Bangalore plant, which is to be officially commissioned in March, would produce 20,000 Qualis by December and raise itto 35,000 units next year. The vehicle would compete with Tata’s Pajero clone – Safari and Sumo. With a single shift working now, the company would start the second shift from May and step up production to 1,000 vehicles a month, he said.

The company has already received orders for 2,500 Qualis, which was unveiled at the Delhi auto show on January 11. “The response was much more than we expected,” Yamazaki added.

Only diesel driven vehicles are being produced now but if there is preference by consumers a petrol version can be considered, he said. Qualis has achieved indigenisation upto 60 per cent and it would touch the requisite 70 per cent soon. He said there were no plans for export of vehicles at present.

The price of all the three models, family saloon, grand saloon and grand saloon-touring, in Mumbai are up by more than Rs 20,000 because of octroi. While the non-airconditioner version will cost Rs 4.99 lakh, the air-conditioner version will cost Rs 5.45 lakh. Qualis has been fitted with Toyota2L engine which was sold 5 million worldwide. The 2466 cc Qualis engine offers better fuel consumption.

Toyota has set up a $ 170 million automobile plant in Bidadi near Bangalore which has a capacity to produce 50,000 units per annum. The company plans to invest another $ 400 million in phase II within the next few years.