Rajkot auto company enters UP as demand for CNG-vehicles rises

Following the ban on diesel-operated auto-rickshaws in Agra from this month, the city is presenting a tremendous business opportunity for auto-rickshaw manufacturing companies that have developed CNG-based autos.

To utilise this opportunity, Rajkot-based Atul Auto Ltd entered UP last week with its "Atul Shakti" range of passenger and loading auto-rickshaws.

Talking to mediapersons on this occasion, Sri Prakash, senior manager (sales) of Atul Auto Ltd, said though the company was present in 11 states of the country, the launch of its Agra-dealership heralded its entry in Uttar Pradesh.

Prakash said the company was currently producing 2,100 units every month and as the company was entering Uttar Pradesh, where CNG auto-rickshaws were in high demand, the capacity was now being enhanced to reach at least 3,000 units per month.

At present, he said, the company had a range of four CNG- and five diesel-based passenger and loading auto-rickshaws being marketed by the brand "Atul Shakti", with an engine capacity of 277 cc.

He said after Agra, the target of the company was to expand its dealership network in the entire state by the end of this year and this network should encompass the entire country by next year.