Toyota to launch diesel variants of Etios, Liva

NEW DELHI: Japanese car maker Toyota said it will launch the diesel variants of its small car Liva and sedan Etios in India next week.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, had introduced the petrol versions of Etios last year, while Liva was rolled out in June this year.

“Yes, we are launching the diesel variants of the two cars on September 9. We aimed to introduce the two versions in August, but had to postpone by a month due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director Sandeep Singh (Marketing) said.

He, however, declined to share further details such as engine specifications and price, saying these information will be announced on the day of launch.

When asked about the production plans, Singh said: “At present we are making about 6,000 units of Etios and Liva. We are ramping up the production volume to 6,800-7,000 units by the October that will include the diesel versions also.”

On waiting period of the two models, he said the Etios is available almost off-the-shelf but Liva will have a waiting period of up to one month.

Singh had earlier said the company is planning to sell 60,000 units of both Etios and Liva, of which over 20,000 units are likely to be Liva.  The company has so far sold about 30,000 units of the two models since their respective launches. Etios is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine, while Live runs on a 1.2 litre petrol engine. The engines are imported from Japan. (PTI)