Toyota to unveil small car at Auto Expo

Japanese car giant Toyota on Thursday said it will display 14 production and concept vehicles, including its low-cost compact car, at the forthcoming Auto Expo in the capital.

Toyota's futuristic technologies in the form of concept and hybrid cars, highlighting the world's largest car maker's environmentally-friendly technology, will be on display during the event, the company said in a statement.

"The Auto Expo in Delhi is the most ideal platform in India to highlight our new product range that will showcase Toyota's technological advancement and innovation," Toyota Kirloskar Motor deputy managing director-marketing Sandeep Singh said. He also said the company will unveil the concept of its compact car, specially developed for India.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the joint venture between Toyota and Kirloskar Group, will start production of the compact car next December at its upcoming second plant in Bangalore.

The compact car project is Toyota's most ambitious venture in the country in its 11-year existence and the company is betting big on this in its bid to become a volume player in the domestic market. It is supposed to showcase both the hatchback and sedan versions of the vehicle during the Expo.

Toyota also has plans to roll out 70,000 units of the proposed compact car in the first year of production. It had also announced plans to showcase its Toyota Prius hybrid car in the biennial event in the national capital and is looking for its launch in the domestic market.