New Delhi:  Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today launched Etios Liva in Chennai. Etios sedan and the hatchback Etios Liva – built on the same platform – have been specifically developed for the Indian customers. Etios Liva inherits its name from its sedan, Etios. The word Liva has been coined from the dynamic and positive terms – Lively and Live life to the fullest – which reflect the spirit and image of the car. It is targeted at today’s youth whose spirit and belief is translated into the advertising line for Etios Liva -“LIV TMRRW 2DAY”.

Tagged – ‘Q Class Hatch’ – Etios Liva is stylishly designed and portrays a youthful and sporty image. The stylish, sporty and trendy Etios Liva has been designed to appeal to today’s youth. Etios Liva will carry forward the ‘Q’ Class experience from Etios and will offer Toyota’s legendary QDR standard – Quality, Durability and Reliability at an affordable price. Etios Liva is Toyota’s endeavour to offer the best suited car for the Indian customer at an affordable price, while providing a vehicle that is “one class above”.

Etios Liva will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between 3,99,000 and 5,99,000 ex-showroom Delhi. The product highlights include youthful and sporty design, best-in-class cabin space, superior ride comfort and best-in-class fuel efficiency.

Etios Liva was launched by Mr. Shekar Viswanathan (Deputy Managing Director, Commercial, TKM), Mr. Sailesh Shetty (Vice President, Sales, TKM), Mr. R K Ramesh (General Manager, Marketing, TKM) and Mr. Hitoshi Fukui, Managing Coordinator- Marketing, TKM.

The company had earlier announced the unit localization project for Etios, which involves setting up a new engine plant and expanding the existing transmission plant. Approximately 100,000 engines will be produced per year starting in the third quarter of 2012 and approximately 240,000 transmissions per year starting in early 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shekar Viswanathan, Deputy Managing Director (Commercial), TKM said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Etios customers. After the good response received by the Etios, we further expanded our production in order to cater to the huge demand. The annual production capacity will be increased to 2,10,000 units by the second quarter of 2012.”

In line with our ‘customer first philosophy’, we wish to keep our customers happy and satisfied by understanding the customer’s preferences and enhancing the product by incorporating their feedback. With the Etios Liva we have now entered the mass volume segment. Toyota vehicles are now available to all aspirational buyers in the middle income group. The Etios has been well accepted by our customers. We hope the Etios Liva will further reinforce the Toyota brand in India, making Toyota a household name

At Toyota, we truly believe in growing with the society. We wish to sell many more vehicles and contribute to the growth of the Indian automobile industry. Entering into the mass volume segment will help us realize this aim.”

Mr. Hitoshi Fukui, Managing Coordinator, TKM said, “With the Etios Liva, we aspire to offer the best suited car for the Indian customer at an affordable price, while providing a vehicle that is “one class above”. The stylish, sporty and trendy Etios Liva has been designed to appeal to today’s youth. We have also added style by offering aero kits with front, rear and side skirt that is sure to make heads turn. The sporty steering wheel, instrument panel -designed to give a aircraft cockpit image, a premium audio system, audio system with Aux in, USB and a wireless remote adds on to the fun, youthful and sporty image of the car.”

Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Mr. Sailesh Shetty, Vice President, Sales, TKM, said ” The marketing campaign for the Etios Liva is exciting, innovative and abreast with the latest marketing tools, digital initiatives and promotions. Promotional activities targeting the youth have been planned in the popular youth hangouts like malls, pubs and also in colleges. Music maestro A R Rahman, the Brand Ambassador for Etios and Etios Liva has composed a special tune for Etios Liva ad campaign. He will also feature in a trendy music video. The music composed by Rahman, captures the spirit of today’s youth and the sporty image of Etios Liva – “Bari Humari Hai” (Its our turn now). Watch out for Rahman’s Etios Liva tune in the TV commercial and the music video on your television screens starting today. It is also available on our website www.toyotaetiosliva.in and www.toyotabharat.com.

We have more than 20,000 happy Etios customers across the nation. Etios has been received well and appreciated by our customers. The sale for Etios was overwhelming, as we sold more than we actually planned. We have brought down the waiting period to less than a month by increasing the production. We look forward to serving more and more customers with Etios Liva and hope that we continue to delight our customers with the Q Class experience. Etios Liva will go on sale and is on display at all our dealerships starting today. We currently have 158 dealerships and will expand our dealer network to 175 by the end of this year. We aim to come closer to our customers and help them avail the best of Toyota’s “Q” Class Service. “