Toyota Eyeing On Mass Market Hybrid Cars Before Going For An EV

Every manufacturer has plans to enter the electric car market, but Toyota has a different perspective. Before pursuing an EV in the Indian market, Toyota intends to launch more affordable mass-market cars in mid-sized SUV, a new C-segment MPV segment. In India, Toyota currently only provides two rebadged Maruti Suzuki cars: the Glanza and the Urban Cruiser as a budget offering in India. According to a recent media story, the brand intends to promote powerful hybrids in India once the new mass-market models are ready.

Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman of TKM, said in an interview with ET, We feel very strongly with 70% coal-based power, strong hybrids give the least amount of well to wheel carbon emissions. We will continue pushing hybrids. As this 70% starts coming down and more renewable energy starts coming in, we will start seeing more and more EVs. Our objective is overall carbon reduction.

Toyota has a considerable number of hybrid vehicles in its global lineup, but they are larger than the Indian subcompact segment. As a result, they're very expensive, and larger autos face significant GST rates of 43 percent, while cars under 4 metres face a 28 percent tax. In the future, Toyota is likely to receive better tax rates from the government.

The Camry Hybrid sedan from Toyota is the only hybrid vehicle available in India, and it costs Rs 41.70 lakh. The Camry in India comes with a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force Engine, which produces 175 bhp of power and 221 Nm of peak torque. The Hybrid system produces a power of 215 bhp and 202 Nm of peak torque.

Toyota sells hybrid powertrains in the Yaris Cross, C-HR, RAV4, among others in its global lineup. Toyota and Suzuki are collaborating on a new generation of mid-size SUVs for the Indian market.

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