No new product launches this year, confirms TKM's sales boss.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched the Toyota Innova Touring Sport in India last week and for this year, the sales division would have to work with such special editions to sustain numbers. The development was confirmed by N. Raja, Director & Senior VP (Sales & Marketing), Toyota Kirloskar Motor to The Economic Times.
Toyota's next product for India will appear at Auto Expo 2018, and until then, the company will focus on understanding and implementing GST within itself and with its dealers, in addition to evaluating the shift to BS-VI norms on time or even before the April 2020 deadline. "We will come with new products later, nothing this year," said Mr. Raja.
While Mr. Raja did not identify products, the Toyota Vios is said to debut at Auto Expo 2018 and launch next April. Another model that is reported to enter India is the Toyota C-HR. The Toyota C-HR's launch in India could change the dynamics of the small SUV segment, only if it enters local production. The compact SUV will compete with the Hyundai Creta and the upcoming Renault Captur, but if it takes the CKD route, it would be priced out of contention.
Another new product from Toyota expected to reach the Indian dealerships next year is the 2018 Toyota Camry. The North American-spec version debuted at NAIAS 2017 in January and the Asian-spec version should debut later this year. TKM will likely assemble CKD kits of the TNGA platform-based new generation Camry, and the localisation plans could take a few months after the regional debut.
Also See: 2018 Toyota Camry vs. 2015 Toyota Camry – Old vs. New
Toyota has presented foreign cars at the Auto Expo such as the Toyota Hiace and the Toyota 86, which have not moved beyond the stage of feasibility studies.
[Source: The Economic Times]
