Autoblog

Automotive News is reporting that Toyota will launch a really cheap car in the next two years. Most likely to be built in India, it is primarily intended for sale in emerging markets, but could also find its way into more developed markets, too. So far, India and Brazil seem to be the leading candidates for hosting production of this inexpensive family car. One reason the company may be siding with India is that Toyota has already acknowledged it will be building a new plant there. A new facility with an annual capacity of 100,000 units is being built near Bangalore's existing facility, which has a capacity of 60,000 units.

Toyota trails Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata in the Indian market, so a new inexpensive model could help it capture more market share. They will face stiff competition from India's own Tata Motors, which recently announced a new small car that will start at just 100,000 rupees ($2,440) when it goes on sale late next year. Renault also offers a no-frills Logan sedan in India, and companies like Fiat and Volkswagen are also looking into this quickly expanding market.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

We told you last year about India's Tata Motors' plan to begin selling a four-door, rear-engined, VW Rabbit-sized vehicle for less than 100,000 Rupees, or about $2,400.

Right now, .8% of Indians can afford to own cars compared to 70% of Americans. Even so, India's urban roads are already over-crowded, and urban planners as well as environmentalists worry that even a small increase in car ownership could be disastrous for the country.

Or it could be just the thing needed to spur the country's economy. Optimists see the as-yet-unnamed super-cheap Tata spurring the construction of larger, more modern highways, as well as fueling stations, driving schools and car parts stores.

Either way, Tata will need to sell a whole helluva lot of 'em since they will carry less than a 3% profit margin.

(A Tata Indigo Marina is pictured)

[Source: Sunday Herald]