When was the Toyota Corolla launched in India?
The Toyota Corolla was launched in India in 2008, as the Corolla Altis, by Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
In the Indian market, this marked the first major introduction of a modern Corolla sedan by the local subsidiary. The Altis designation helped differentiate the model from earlier generations and aligned with Toyota's global naming strategy. Over the following decade, the model received updates to stay competitive, before the sedan variant was gradually phased out as market preferences shifted toward SUVs. In the early 2020s, Toyota moved away from the traditional Corolla sedan in India and expanded the Corolla nameplate into newer formats, such as the Corolla Cross SUV, in select markets including India.
Launch timeline and milestones
Key milestones in how the Corolla came to India and how its presence evolved over time:
- 2008: Toyota Kirloskar Motor launches the Corolla Altis in India, marking the domestic debut of a modern Corolla sedan.
- 2010s: The Altis remains a staple in Toyota's Indian lineup with periodic updates and feature enhancements to stay competitive.
- Early 2020s: The sedan is phased out from the Indian market as part of a shift toward SUVs; the Corolla nameplate reappears in some markets as the Corolla Cross, with a presence in newer markets over time.
Overall, the Corolla's Indian run began in 2008 and gradually evolved, culminating in a shift away from the traditional sedan in the late 2010s, with the nameplate revived in an SUV form in later years.
Current status of the Corolla nameplate in India
As of the most recent updates, the traditional Corolla sedan is no longer sold in India. Toyota's focus in the Indian market has shifted to other models, while the Corolla nameplate has appeared in SUV form in some regions as the Corolla Cross, reflecting a global move toward crossovers and compact SUVs.
Summary
The Corolla was first launched in India in 2008 as the Corolla Altis by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. It represented Toyota's significant foray into the Indian C-segment sedan market, undergoing updates through the 2010s before the sedan was phased out in the following decade. The nameplate has since seen a broader comeback in the SUV segment in some markets, with the Corolla Cross illustrating the modern evolution of the Corolla in a different body style.
