Toyota is getting more hopeful about its expanse in the Indian terrain and is contemplating to unveil more hybrid cars in the domestic market. The Japanese car manufacturer operates on the Indian soil under a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group and is known as the Toyota Kirloskar Motor in India. The Japanese auto major is considering the launch of more hybrid models in the Indian car market in the future as it witnesses steady and positive sales growth of the Toyota Prius, which is the company’s only hybrid model offered to the domestic market.

Motivated by the global initiative to manufacture fuel-efficient and green cars, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is all set to launch a fleet of 18 new hybrid models by the next couple of year’s time. Following Toyota’s global venture, the Toyota Kirloskar Motor in India may also consider bringing in more hybrid models, depending on the growth of demand for such vehicles in future.

A Toyota spokesperson has said that the company has already introduced the Prius to Indian market and will continue to study the market to unveil more new hybrid models when the time is right. He added confirming that Toyota is contemplating to launch 18 new hybrid models by the year 2015, among which 13 are brand new vehicles and the rest of the five will be refreshed models.

When the company was asked, whether it will begin to assemble the hybrid models at any of Toyota’s two Indian factories, the TMC spokesperson had commented that based on the future market dynamics, the company will study the Indian car market and then take a decision according to the future conditions. However, the Toyota official refrained revealing the possible time during which the company might introduce the hybrid cars to India, or start the operations of assembling the hybrid in the Indian plants. He just mentioned that it is entirely related to the future production plans.

At present, Toyota has only one hybrid offering to the Indian consumers that is the Prius. The Prius is available in the Indian car market as a completely imported car and is subjected to high import duties. However, the sale of this hybrid car has really increased over 70 percent from 7 units in the previous fiscal to 12 units in 2012-13 fiscal.

The Prius has a premium pricing as it is fully imported and attaches a very steep import duty charges to its price tag. The Toyota Prius is priced between Rs 29.26 lakhs and Rs 31.43 lakhs (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

Toyota has gained the confidence to announce the launch of a fleet of 18 new hybrid cars as it has crossed the milestone of selling 50 lakh units of hybrid cars globally on 31st March 2013.

Presently, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 19 hybrid passenger vehicles across the globe. This range of hybrid models comprises of 13 Toyota models and 6 Lexus brands, which sell in the auto markets of 80 countries in the world.

Tagged: Toyota Hybrid Cars