Toyota’simage may have been hit after the Japanese carmaker had to recall its vehicles in the US, but in India the company sees no effect and is looking at a robust growth.
Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “No impact in India. Our sales have doubled. It’s limited to the US. Each of our vehicles is in short supply (in India)”.
Talking about cumulative sales for January-February 2010, which were 11,982 units, a 109% more than for the same period last year, he said, “Last two months, we have grown by 100 per cent.
In fact, the company is targeting over 25 % growth in India in this year (2010) as it aims to sell at least 70,000 units. It sold 55,497 units in 2009.
But Singh accepted that the growth in the initial 2 months was on a ‘very low base’.
TKM anticipates the growth to slow-down in April-May as few states have hiked VAT and road tax, while the Centre has increased excise duty, but said “sales should be all right if the economy continues to do well”.
Meanwhile, TKM has obtained orders to deliver 68 units of Prius.
Singh said, “Government has not given any concession. Nothing has come in the budget. Response is very good. We have said we are not here to sell numbers (Prius).We are here to generate awareness about hybrid technology. We will continue to do that. People are falling in love with this vehicle”.