Official - No plans for Toyota Prius CKD operation in India
The Toyota Prius will be manufactured at the Gateway Plant in Thailand and that prompts the question - Will TKM make use of the trade agreement between the two countries and lower the price of the Prius by assembling Thai kits at Bidadi?
Deputy Managing Director of TKM (Toyota Kirloskar Motors) was kind enough to field this question -
We have no plans now to assemble the Prius in India. We sold 150 vehicles in India and the Prius is expensive. In Thailand, the demand for hybrid vehicles is high.
Perhaps Toyota's market study showed there were no real chance to gain numbers even if the Prius was brought to India through the CKD route. Customers who buy the Prius are of high profile, and regardless of the price, they will sign on the dotted line.
Mr.Singh said the company's focus is now on the Etios which will be launched in December.