Toyota’s production and sales subsidiary in India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), is to start exporting the Etios series sedan and hatchback to South Africa in March 2012.
Although TKM has been manufacturing vehicles for sale in India since 1999, exports of the Etios will mark the automaker’s first vehicle exports from the country.
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The models for export will be based on the Etios recently launched in India but modified “to fit the lifestyles, consumer preferences, climate, road conditions and usage considerations in South Africa”, Toyota said.
In line with its Global Vision released in March of this year, TMC is positioning emerging markets as a priority and is aiming to increase sales in those markets. To match the growth of India’s automobile market, TKM’s annual production capacity is scheduled to increase from its current 160,000 vehicles to 310,000 vehicles in 2013.
“The start of vehicle exports from India represents TMC’s commitment to develop India into a global production and supply base for vehicles and transmissions,” the automaker said.
