Toyota Kirloskar Motors India is contemplating its options of launching a diesel small car model in India by 2011. "We are keenly studying the diesel option for the small car to be launched by 2011. It will depend on the market and the government regulations regarding diesel engines," Toyota Kirloskar Motor(TKM) Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh.
Any more details about the car are yet not available as the company remains tight-lipped about it. However, Sandeep Singh also added that the company is looking at launching diesel model of its existing sedan Corolla Altis in India.
Toyota has a joint venture with Kirlosakar Motors in India as Toyota Kirloskar Motors. It is investing Rs. 3200 crores in India to set up its second plant in Bangalore to manufacture its small car. Toyota had recently incurred losses close to $800 million amidst ongoing credit crisis. Regarding its Indian operations, TKM Managing Director Hiroshi Nakagawa said: "Our margins are under pressure, but so far we have been able to remain profitable. We expect to make marginal profits in this year as well.".
