Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that it would start exporting "Etios" series sedan and hatchback to South Africa in March 2012.

Mr Hiroshi Nakagawa MD of TKM, a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and the Kirloskar Group at a function said that "We are looking at exporting 20,000 units of the Etios series annually.”

The models for export will be based on the Etios platform currently sold in India, but will be developed and produced to fit the lifestyles, consumer preferences, climate, road conditions in South Africa.

Etios will mark Toyota's first vehicle exports from India, the Japanese company had said earlier.

Mr Nakagawa said the slowdown in growth, inflationary pressures and high interest rates have not hurt Toyota’s sales in India. He added that "Our business here in India has not been impacted and our market share doubled to 6% this year, driven by robust demand for our Etios and Liva models.”

According to him, TKM sold 3,943 units of Etios and 4,328 units of Liva in November.

Mr Nakagawa said localisation of Etios is at 70% and may go up to 90% once the company’s new plant and a transmission facility in Bangalore come up next year.

(Sourced from PTI)