Toyota’s much-anticipated Etios Liva hatchback’s launch has been pushed from April to June 2011. The step was announced to channelize the existing capacity towards production of the recently launched Etios sedan, which has been plagued with waiting periods that run as long as 7 months!
Aside from delaying the Liva’s launch, Toyota is also initiating a second shift at its plant, faster production time per vehicle and production enhancement in order to speed up the Etios’ deliveries. The second shift production will help the company dish out a total of 5,000 units a month from the current 2,500 units at its Bangalore plant. The plant has an annual production capacity of 70,000 cars.
Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said that Toyota is thankful for the positive consumer responses to the Etios and for the resulting demand. He added that Toyota’s consumer-first philosophy has meant that they put the customers’ needs ahead of everything else. Further, the consumer-first philosophy has helped Toyota manufacture quality products and maximize customer satisfaction, said Nakagawa.
TKM’s Deputy MD Sandeep Singh was apologetic about the Liva’s postponement saying, “We would like to sincerely apologize to people eagerly awaiting the hatchback – Etios Liva, for the postponement of the launch. We will do everything we can to limit the inconvenience caused to our customers.”
Toyota Etios Liva launch, price and competition
Toyota Etios Liva, which will now be launched in June 2011, is the hatchback version of Etios, and will be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine. Price around Rs. 4.5 lakh, the Liva will be the cheapest Toyota in the country and will take on Maruti Swift and Ritz, Hyundai i10 and i20, Tata Indica Vista, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Micra and Fiat Punto. But Toyota will have a mammoth task ensuring deliveries of the Liva are met promptly. Also read: Toyota Etios Liva vs Honda Brio vs Suzuki Swift and the rest
Toyota Etios launch, price, demand and waiting period
The Toyota Etios, launched on December 1st 2010, is the cheapest compact sedan in India starting at a competitive price of Rs. 4.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) that’s slam bang in the Swift Dzire and Tata Manza price bracket. Toyota has received bookings for more than 26,500 cars, which has led to waiting periods stretching as much as 7 months!
Toyota delivered 1,651 units and 2,686 units of Etios sedans during January and February 2011 respectively. The number of cars to be delivered in the following months will increase gradually once the second shift at Toyota’s plant begins. Related: Toyota Etios vs Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire
The Etios is powered by a 1,496 cc, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder engine that churns out 90 PS of power at 5,600 rpm and 132 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. It’s mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that doesn’t need frequent shifts.
During the Toyota Etios road test, we found the sedan to be a practical, budget saloon that’s easy to drive, great on interior space with enough leg room at the rear (550 litres boot space, too). Powered by a peppy engine that offer’s quick acceleration, the Etios returns a mileage of 17.6 kmpl (as per ARAI).
Toyota Etios Price of Different Variants: (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Model Colors Interiors Price
Etios J White, Silver Black Rs. 4.96 lakh
Etios G All six Black Rs. 5.46 lakh
Etios G + ABS, EBD All six Black Rs. 5.96 lakh
Etios V + ABS, EBD All six Black & grey Rs. 6.41 lakh
Etios VX + ABS, EBD All six Black & red Rs. 6.86 lakh
