Toyota to explore possibility of more hybrid models in India

Japanese auto giant Toyota will consider introducing new hybrid vehicles in India in the future, encouraged by the gradual increase in the sales of its only such model, the Prius, in the country.

As part of a global initiative to develop fuel-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles, Toyota will launch 18 new hybrid models by 2015.

The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, may also consider assembly of hybrid cars if the demand for such vehicles increases in the future.

"We have already introduced the Prius to the Indian market and we will continue to study the Indian market to introduce new hybrid models in India at appropriate times," a Toyota spokesperson said.

The company is planning to introduce 18 new hybrid models by 2015, of which 13 are new vehicles and five will be model changes, the official said.

When asked if the company will start assembly of hybrid models at any of its two Indian plants, the spokesperson said: "Depending on the future market dynamics, we will study and take a decision accordingly."

The official, however, declined to comment on any possible timeframe to start CKD (completely knocked down) operations of hybrid vehicles in India, saying "it is related to future production plans".

The company currently sells only one hybrid model in India, the Prius, as a fully-imported vehicle. The sales of the model increased over 70 per cent to 12 units in 2012-13 from seven units in the previous financial year.

Due to very high overall import duty, the Prius is at present available between Rs 29.26 lakh and Rs 31.43 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company today announced that it has reached the milestone of crossing 50 lakh units in sales of hybrid vehicles globally as on March 31 this year.

The company had launched its first hybrid vehicle in 1997 and has so far sold a total of 51.25 lakh units across the world. Currently, the company sells 19 hybrid passenger vehicles, comprising 13 Toyota and 6 Lexus brands, and one plug-in hybrid model in about 80 countries.

Talking about its global plan for hybrid vehicles, spokesperson said: "We plan to introduce 18 new hybrid models by the end of 2015. We expect global sales of these additional hybrid vehicles to be at least one million (10 lakh) units a year from 2013 to 2015."