ADVERTISEMENT

Toyota To Keep Selling Diesel Cars Even As Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors Back Down

We still see demand for diesel variants, says the VP of Toyota Kirloskar that makes the popular Innova and Fortuner UVs in India.

Toyota Kirloskar has already invested in a plant in India to make BS-VI diesel engines at minimum investment. (Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg)
Toyota Kirloskar has already invested in a plant in India to make BS-VI diesel engines at minimum investment. (Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. plans to continue selling diesel cars in India despite the implementation of Bharat Stage-VI emission norms from Apr. 1, 2020.

Other Indian carmakers, however, are contemplating their diesel car plans, due to the advent of the stricter emission norms. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has already announced phasing out of small diesel cars from its portfolio, with effect from next year. Tata Motors Ltd. has followed suit.

Diesel car prices are expected to go up significantly from next year due to compliance with the stricter vehicular emission standards.

"We still see demand for diesel variants, and will continue to manufacture them till we have the future technology setting in," said Toyota Kirloskar's Vice Chairman Shekar Viswanathan.

Toyota Kirloskar is the Indian subsidiary of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s second largest carmaker by sales volume.

According to Viswanathan, Toyota Kirloskar has already invested in a plant in India to make BS-VI diesel engines at minimum investment. This was done keeping in mind the government’s 'Make in India' philosophy, he added.

Toyota’s India product portfolio includes the popular Innova Crysta and Fortuner utility vehicles. Based on its totoal vehicle sales from January to July, its current diesel-petrol ratio is 82:18. Considering only the passenger car segment, the petrol-diesel ratio is close to 50:50.

Toyota Kirloskar, however, said it has technologies in place for various electric vehicles that can be introduced in India depending on the market's requirements.

“The speed of market launch differs greatly, depending on the country, region, road environment, energy situation and other factors," said Viswanathan on the company’s plans to bring electric vehicles from Toyota’s global portfolio into India.

The company is closely monitoring customer needs and regulation trends as well as continuing to devote all its efforts to the development of key technologies such as the batteries that power hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and electrified vehicles, Viswanathan said.

The company will keep rooting for hybrid vehicles despite the government favouring only electric vehicles in the country. "If the government encourages hybrids or self-charging EVs, it would augur well for the pure EV sector given the commonality of parts," said Viswanathan.