Toyota Rolls Out Etios Hatchback In Indonesia

JAKARTA (Nikkei)--Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) said Monday that it has begun making and marketing its strategic compact vehicle for emerging markets, the Etios, at a recently completed factory in Indonesia.

The automaker plans to sell 24,000 vehicles there annually, focusing on the country's rapidly growing middle class.

The hatchback Etios Valco features a 1.2-liter gasoline engine and starts at 135.5 million rupiahs, or about 1.34 million yen. About 55% of the car is assembled from locally made parts, a proportion the automaker aims to raise to more than 80%.

The new assembly plant is Toyota's second in Indonesia, and the Etios built there will initially be sold in that market. It plans to expand the site's annual capacity to 70,000 units within the year, and is expected to add production of other models.

Toyota sold about 405,000 vehicles in Indonesia in 2012, raising its market share from 35% to 36%. It hopes to maintain that share this year.

(The Nikkei, March 12 morning edition)

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