LEADING JAPANESE automaker, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is will be rolling out the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel variants of cars for its Indian customers.

The CNG version will be fitted to its premium Sedan, Corolla and multi-utility vehicle (MUV) Innova. The Corolla and the Innova models will be the first ever CNG fuel based offerings by TKM.

Presently, the company is examining different kinds of CNG kits on both the models at its Bangalore units. The CNG version cars are expected to ply on Indian roads very soon. The kits are being supplied by Minda Auto Gas, the original equipment for its flagship car, Santro and Maruti Suzuki for its Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) based WagonR Duo.

Toyota confirmed that the company is looking for the right CNG fuel options. The CNG equipped models will be introduced to metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai as CNG is presently available in these two places.

Later the launch will be followed by other CNG-compliant zones like Surat and Agra. While Innova is already a market leader, the sale of premium Sedan Corolla has slightly dipped to 3,740 units in the April-October period from 3,925 units last year.

Industry insiders say TKM is targetting to tap the huge commercial sector of tour operators and fleet owners by introducing vehicles running on CNG fuel. Toyota Kirloskar Motors is all set to bank upon the high-demand of CNG vehicles.

Already, a large number of CNG and LPG cars are available in the market including General Motors’ Optra, Hindustan Motors’ Lancer, and popular compact cars like the Santro and the WagonR Duo.