TKM to Focus on Hybrid Models

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the Indian arm of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), is focusing on hybrid models in India as it foresees big demand for them in the coming years.

- Bhargav TS

On the back drop of implementing BS VI emission norms in India by 2020, the Japanese auto major plans to bring in more hybrid vehicles. Currently, TKM manufactures Camry Hybrid at its plant in Bidadi, near Bengaluru. It sells around 95 of them every month, which is a promising sign for the company. The company is planning to launch new variants of existing models and new models with hybrid variants from 2018.

T S Jaishankar, Deputy Managing Director, TKM, told Auto Components India at the plant in Bidadi that the regulations for emission control, will trigger the market demand for hybrid vehicles in India. As the switch over to the hybrid vehicles is part of the environment protection drive, cost hike may not be a major issue among the consumers.

“However, we are looking forward for the continued support from the government to push the sales of hybrid vehicles further. Our new focus area will be hybrids for all our modes. Before we graduate to electric and autonomous vehicles we have to level-play with the hybrids. The change over to BS VI, in just 3 years, will fuel our move. The cost of tweaking diesel engines to comply with BS VI is huge. We are planning to invest in hybrid which makes sense instead of modifying the diesel engine. The cost increase could be offset by this. With the continued subsidies and support from the government, BS VI will certainly drive hybrid vehicles competitively,” he said.