Toyota Planning To Defer Prius Launch In India

Hours after media reports suggesting Honda Civic Hybrid going off dealerships,another such announcement came from their Japanese pals,Toyota India.Toyota India said reporters that Toyota Prius will not hit Indian roads for soon.The decision to postpone the Prius launch is on account of high import duties.Even Honda cited the same reason while pulling off Civic Hybrids from it’s dealerships. It seems Honda’s announcement triggered Toyota to put brake on their Hybrid plan.Toyota and Honda said Government should take steps to make these hybrids.Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director, Toyota India, said: “We are, at the same time, conducting feasibility studies in India on hybrid cars, and I think we will take more time before we see hybrid cars. I think the government needs to take some pro-active action to encourage automobile manufacturers to bring in hybrid cars… otherwise, they are very expensive, out of reach and a normal buyer cannot afford the car…”.

But there is a silver lining, India will get Fortuner(note that we reported the same first) by October-09 and a new Camry will follow.Toyota India officials also confirmed the arriaval of it’s small car.About their small car we will update very soon stay tuned for same.