Toyota Motor lines up new models

Toyota Kirloskar Motor is studying various market segments and emerging trends in the Indian passenger car industry to draw up a plan to launch new models.

According to Toyohiko Ino, director, marketing division of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, "The focus for the next five years is clear. We are looking for mass appeal. We are at present studying various market segments in the Indian passenger car industry and will definitely come up with more models to meet the growth targets that we have set."

Ino was in Ahmedabad last week for the launch of Innova.

At present enjoying about a five per cent share of the Indian car market, Toyota Kirloskar has set a target of doubling its share to 10 per cent by 2010.

He said that Innova will lift the sales of the company and Toyota expects to sell 50,000 units of the car in the first year of its launch.

"Volume-wise Innova will drive the sales of the company. To a large extent the Innova will replace the Qualis, that has been phased out from the Indian market," Ino said.

The company sold around 35,000 units of the Qualis per year, before it was phased out.

When asked if a car will be launched in the small car segment, Ino said it would be too early to state this but the company is studying all segments.

In Gujarat there is a booking period of four months for the Innova, and Toyota dealerships say that the 4,000 units assured for Ahmedabad, north Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch area will be inadequate.

"We have been assured that a delivery of between 3,500 and 4,000 units of the Innova will be made in one year, but I feel that this will also fall short of demand. Bookings have already been made for the next four months," said Gitresh Yagnik, chief executive officer, Infinium Toyota.

According to Yagnik, the gap between the demand and supply of the vehicle will continue to grow. "We just hope that Toyota is able to provide more cars that it has assured as Gujarat is one of the major markets for the company," he said.

On the Toyota Prado, the high end sports utility vehicle that was launched a few months ago, Ino said the waiting period will continue till May, after which it will be available on demand.

At present selling between 15 to 20 units of the Prado, the company expects to sell 300 units of the SUV every year.