April 5, 2012: Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador. The cricketer, in the news for his exploits in the field and a recent century will now has endorsed the Toyota brand.

Sandeep Singh, deputy MD, marketing, Toyota, said “Toyota’s journey in India and Virat’s journey in cricket bear similarities. With the latest entrant in Toyota’s line up of vehicles in India- the Etios and Etios Liva- TKM aims to connect with today’s youth. Who better than Virat Kohli, who brings to the game, all that is represented by the Indian youth of today.

Kohli will campaign for the Toyota brand through various electronic and print communications. His appointment as brand ambassador is the second by an auto player in the last year or so with Amitabh Bachchan being appointed as brand ambassador for Force Motors’ SUV, Force One. Prior to that, Ranbir Kapoor was appointed brand ambassador for the Nissan Micra.

Toyota has earlier appointed Aamir Khan as brand ambassador and the Bollywood hero had figured prominently in advertisements for the Toyota Innova.

The Etios and its hatch sibling have hugely boosted Toyota’s monthly tally which crossed the 18,000 mark in March 2012 sales. The Etios sold 5104 units while the Liva sold 4,034 units.