Since its inception, Toyota has donned the 8-seater segment with popular cars like Qualis, Innova, and Fortuner. Even though Toyota discontinued the production of the Qualis, it still enjoys great demand in the used car market.
As per reports, Toyota has been trying to launch 8-seater variants of its well-known MPVs, the Innova Crysta and Innova Hycross. However, to their astonishment, the Indian government has decided to disallow the registration of 8-seater vehicles for private use.
Under the new ruling, 8-seater vehicles can only be registered as commercial vehicles or taxis. The Parivahan website has stopped accepting registration applications for vehicles with eight or more seats for private usage since May 22, 2023.
The Indian government has introduced a new “Omnibus” category within the “Transport” segment of the Parivahan website, specifically for vehicles with eight seats or more. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways also mandated annual fitness certification for vehicles under the “Omnibus” category.
It remains to be seen how Toyota will adapt to these new regulations set by the Indian government. The latest MPVs available today are only offered in standard 7-seater configuration, whereas the top-end variant offers a 6-seater layout with captain seats in the middle row.
Toyota had plans to bring 8-seater variants of both MPVs, with enhanced seating comfort and additional space in the third row. It’ll be challenging for Toyota to launch the 8-seater as a taxi/commercial vehicle because the cab operators usually prefer the base variant considering the utility and lower ownership cost.
Toyota offers the Innova Hycross in two powertrains: a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, which produces 174bhp and 204Nm of peak torque, and a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, that produces 186bhp and 206Nm of peak torque.
On the other hand, the Innova Crysta is only available in diesel, featuring a 2.4-litre diesel engine that produces 148bhp and 343Nm of peak torque and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Thoughts About The Indian Government’s Regulation On 8-Seaters
While this regulation may limit the availability of 8-seater cars for private use, it also opens up opportunities for commercial and taxi operators. The impact of these regulations on the market remains to be seen, and automakers like Toyota have to develop new marketing strategies to meet the new regulation.
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Keyword: Latest Government Policy Requires Toyota Innova Crysta and HyCross 8-Seater To Be Registered As Taxis - Everyt