Marking its presence in the countrys growing sedan car segment,Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor on Wednesday held the global debut of the Etios. To be made available in four variants,the sedan has been priced between Rs 4,96,000 and Rs 6,86,500 (ex-showroom Delhi). This puts the car in direct competition with Maruti Suzuki best-selling Swift Dzire (the base model of which is priced at Rs 4.89 lakh) and Tata Motors Manza (priced at Rs 5.12 lakh). Etios is definitely a milestone not only for Toyota in India,but for Toyota globally, Toyota president Akio Toyoda said. In what is expected to boost Indias auto ancillary market,the company president said 70 per cent of parts for the Etios will be sourced from vendors in the country. Toyoda said that the company was preparing to start local production of the sedans engine and transmission in two-and-a-half years. So,if that is realised,the localisation ratio will be 90 per cent, he said. Toyota will produce the Etios sedan at its Bidadi factory complex near Bangalore. Toyota Kirloskar Motor deputy managing director Sandeep Singh said the company will introduce the Liva,a hatchback version of the Etios sedan,in April next year. Toyota Kirloskar is 89 per cent owned by Toyota,with the remainder held by the Kirloskar Group. Analysts said the price of Etios will enable the car to compete with entry-level sedans of Maruti,Ford and Tata Motors as well as top-end hatchbacks of Volkswagen,Hyundai,Nissan and Maruti. Aggressive pricing and the forthcoming hatchback model could also limit market leader Marutis ability to increase prices to tackle rising raw material costs.
