Eicher Motors launches Terra 16 tipper in Chennai

Eicher Motors expects its trailer trucker and tripper of heavier tonnage, currently in the design stage, to have a pilot run next financial year.

Addressing a press conference at the launch of Terra 16, a 16-tonne tipper, in Chennai, Rajesh Kalra, chief executive, Eicher Motors, said: "The next products to be launched from the Eicher stable will be the trailer trucker and the tripper of heavier tonnage which are in the design stage."

Kalra said that from its design stage, it takes at least three years for a commercial vehicle to hit the market. He pointed out that the company took close to three years from the design stage to the launch of the new Terra 16, which was launched in Cochin recently.

Eicher Motors had acquired a Detroit-based engineering services provider called Design Intent Engineering for an investment of $2.5 million in July, 2005. Kalra said that Design Intent Engineering provides its expertise in surface design engineering and design software to Eicher Motors.

The new tipper is also manufactured from Pithampur near Indore, where Eicher's commercial vehicles are manufactured. At present, the total capacity of the plant is about 35,000 units per year. Kalra said that the capacity can handle a year's demand without any difficulties.

The launch of Terra 16 marks the foray of Eicher Motors, a commercial vehicle maker, into the tipper segment. The tipper is priced at Rs 7.85 lakh, and costs close to Rs 8 lakh when taxes are included. In order to cash in on the construction boom in the south market, the company launched its new product in Cochin initially. The next launching destination would be Bangalore and Goa. The Indian tipper market is estimated at 30,000 units per year.