Toyota expects the hybrid version of the Yaris to be the model to appeal to fleets, rather than the standard car, according to the car’s marketing manager Nik Pearson.
Without the hybrid version, the new Yaris, which goes on sale in September, is expected have a 20% fleet take-up of sales totalling almost 22,000. However the hybrid, which will command a price premium of approximately £2500 over the non-hybrid car, will “make the in-roads into fleet” when it arrives in early summer 2012.
Speaking at the launch of the new Yaris, Toyota MD Jon Williams promised the hybrid would beat the recently revealed Kia Rio’s 85g/km CO2 figure, with insiders predicting a sub-80g/km official figure.
Williams said he expected business buyers for the Yaris to come from the public sector, particularly the NHS grey-fleet market.
Meanwhile, Toyota is hoping to cash-in on the increasing interest for winter tyres in the UK with the launch of a dealer-based winter tyre programme launching next month.
Toyota trialled the scheme successfully with three outlets last year and will now roll out the operation countrywide.
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