Leyland aims at 15% growth in market share

Armed with a bevy of new and powerful models, commercial vehicles-maker Ashok Leyland hopes to grow its market share in the truck and bus segment by close to 15 per cent in the next three years, even as initiatives are taken to push up exports.

The company's research and development (R&D) spend is being increased from one per cent to 2-3 per cent of the turnover, top executives of the company said.

"Our market share will improve from the current 35 per cent to 45-50 per cent in the next 3-5 years. The growth will be driven by growing sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles with demand coming from intra-city transport and small trucks. This will follow the completion of the highways project across the country," M Natraj, executive director (product development and advanced engineering), Ashok Leyland, said at a press preview of the company's offerings at the Auto Expo.

The Hindujas-promoted company is extremely bullish about the prospects coming from the proposed Safta agreements which will ease trade links between India and its neighbours, including Pakistan, as also agreements with south-east Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia.

Ashok Leyland today unveiled a high-capacity low-floor vestibule CNG bus, a CNG-powered minibus as well as a new-generation 260 HP engine-fitted tractor, and a tipper which will be at display at the Auto Expo.