Launch of the Toyota Hiace put on hold in India - Report
Was announced to launch in the second half of 2015.
In the aftermath of the ban on registration of 2,000+ cc diesel passenger vehicles in Delhi-NCR, automakers are believed to be reluctant to launch large utility vehicles. The reluctance is fuelled by the belief that this Supreme Court ban could soon be enforced in other parts of the country, chiefly the metro cities where the sales of automobiles are the highest.
One of such products is the Toyota Hiace which the company said it would launch in the "early second half of 2015" at its showcasing at the 4th Bus and Special Vehicle Show. In an e-mail questionnaire sent to Toyota by Business Standard, an official has said that there are no immediate plans to launch the Hiace in India.
The Toyota Hiace is 10-seat luxury van that is being sold in 140 countries. Developed to complement the brand's popular model, the Toyota Innova, the Hiace was expected to be the only major launch by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) in the year 2015.
Reports said that the Toyota Hiace would be imported as CBUs (Completely Built Unit) and priced in the range of INR 40-45 lakhs (ex-showroom) before the company explored manufacturing options.
Also Read: Toyota India “exploring options” for petrol Innova and Fortuner
The Hiace for India would be powered by the Toyota Fortuner's 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 136 PS and 300 Nm, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The salient features of the luxury van includes dual front airbags, ABS, power-sliding doors, reverse/parking camera, and a 6-speaker audio system.
[Source: Business Standard]