Indian Autos blog

The Toyota Etios has been launched in the South African market and fans of the Japanese brand have shown eagerness and support on the official Facebook page of Toyota SA to see and drive the new arrival.

The Etios is exported from India and at the commencement of exports last month, a senior Toyota SA official said the Etios is positioned as a newcomer’s car. On the other hand, Toyota is also expecting many pensioners to drive the Etios and them to be bought as retirement gifts.

At the Indonesian International Motor Show that is to be held in Jakarta between September 20-30, Toyota may introduce the Etios for the Indonesian market. Last year’s IIMS witnessed the showcasing of the Innova and Fortuner facelifts.

The Etios Liva was caught testing in Indonesia shortly after its launch in India stoking the flames for a debate on its introduction in Indonesia.

At the Ennore Port in Chennai today morning, Toyota Kirloskar Motor commenced exports of the locally manufactured Etios hatchback and sedan models to South Africa.

Toyota launches the Etios on the 21st of May in South Africa at a starting price of 7.63 lakh rupees. The first consignment of cars consisted of 247 units. Toyota expects an annual export volume of 20k units a year to SA. Cars will reach all 198 dealerships in time for the launch.

Mr Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor said the company has not identified markets other than South Africa to export Etios. Studies are underway to identify new export markets for the coming years. Toyota’s focus continues to be on the domestic market where a lot of work is still pending.

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We are at the Ennore port here in Chennai, reporting live from the event. Toyota has formally announced the export of the Toyota Etios to South Africa. Earlier today, we posted a pic of the interior of the Toyota Etios that heads to South Africa. It seems that the South African model will not get the flat bottom steering wheel that we get. Apart from that, the Etios remained unchanged.

The Etios which will be exported will be manufactured in the Bengaluru facility. The capacity has been ramped up from 80,000 units to 1,20,000 units per annum to assimilate the export demands. Only the petrol variants will be exported to the right hand drive market of South Africa. The Etios will be sold from 198 outlets in South Africa.

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Toyota commences export of Etios models to South Africa from the Ennore port here in Chennai today and Indian Autos Blog will be at hand to provide you the complete details along with photographs. Coinciding with this landmark event, Toyota SA has released one photograph of the Etios’ interior.

Toyota SA had released images of the car’s exteriors for hatch and sedan body styles. The Etios launches in two variants on the 21st of May with ABS and front dual airbags as standard features. The fully loaded XS model is installed with power windows and central locking.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor will start export of the Etios models to South Africa on the 4th of April from the Ennore Port in Chennai. The Etios launches in South Africa on the 21st of May as the entry-level model in their portfolio. The hatch and sedan models will be sold in SA and the Etios takes the place of the Tazz, an economy hatchback that reached the end of the road five years ago.

South Africa is the first export market for the Etios. Toyota is very ambitious with the Etios project and hopes to manufacture it in Brazil and perhaps Thailand under the eco car program. The Etios was spotted testing in Indonesia and a larger Etios may be sold in China.

The trims, engines and changes on the South African spec model will be learned on the 4th of next month, so stay tuned to Indian Autos Blog.

The number of sedans in Brazil have no signs of slowing down, and following the launch of the Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Cobalt, it could be the Etios in the second half of 2012 produced from the Sorocaba plant.

Spotted by Car And Driver Brazil reader Daniel Correa, the Etios, built to a price for emerging markets such as India and Brazil, is not seen testing for the first time in a foreign country. Toyota has tested the Etios in Indonesia and hasn’t ruled out launching it the other two emerging markets Russia and China.

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Much to look forward to for employees, customers and fans of the Japanese brand as Toyota South Africa Motors announced that the Made-In-India Etios range launches on the 21st of May 2012. Toyota unveiled the Etios range for South Africa at the Johannesburg International Motor Show last year.

The Etios has to battle with two generations of the VW Polo and Polo sedan in South Africa that are segment leaders. For over five years, Toyota has not had a car at such a low price. The Yaris and the Aygo are the two vehicles the Etios hatchback joins to complete a full range of small cars.

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