Toyota is planning to unleash the diesel variant of its Toyota Etios in the month of September 2011. According to sources, the diesel car will sport a 1.4 litre engine, same as the one used in Toyota Corolla Altis, but will have lower power than the Altis engine. Toyota India has seen a 99% growth in car sales in the month of July 2011, selling 13, 592 units as compared to 6834 units in July 2010. The company feels that the customer response has been favourable for its newly launched Etios sedan and Etios Liva hatchback with 4095 units and 2551 units respectively, sold in the month of July 2011.
Toyota is hopeful that with the current sales figures for both its cars, it can expect higher sales when the diesel variants for Etios and Etios Liva are launched. The rising petrol prices have spurred the Indian customers to shift from petrol based cars to diesel powered cars owing to the lower running cost of diesel cars.