The first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, Toyota Prius has been put on hold. The issues as cited by company officials are infrastructure, a steep duty structure and inability to launch at a competitive price.

According to experts the cut down in the price of Honda Civic has also contributed to the delay in the launch of Prius. Prius would come into the market with a price tag of Rs 20-22 lakh, and with the cost cut, Honda’s Civic is now priced at Rs 13.36 lakh.

Toyota and Honda are the leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles globally, and Toyota Prius which was launched 11 years ago is the market leader. Hybrid cars use both petrol engine and electric motor. They are fuel-efficient and have lower emission levels. The domestic arm of Toyota said that the Indian market is not yet ready for a hybrid vehicle. Besides this, high import duty of 114% seems to be a major deterrent. 

Environmental concerns (and rising gasoline prices in the US) have spurred the sales of these greener cars. Toyota chose to use a totally new brand name for its hybrid car, while Honda elected to offer hybrid versions of its popular models such as Honda Accord and Honda Civic.

Latest Toyota Cars India Online Showcase:
All Cars at Single Place - Compare Price, Finance, Features and Specification.
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G (Petrol)
Toyota Corolla HE (Petrol)
Toyota Camry W1 Manual (Petrol)
Toyota Innova 2.5 EV (Diesel) MS 8-Seater (Diesel)
Toyota Prado VX (Petrol)
Toyota Landcruiser V8 (Petrol)
Toyota Alphard 240 G (Petrol)

Add a comment

Posted by Amrith K.A on 19 November, 2008 1:39:19 PM IST #