Tata Motors launches two LCVs

Tata Motors, India's largest auto maker by revenue, today launched a passenger carrier Magic Iris and a micro truck Ace Zip, with an aim to extend its share in the domestic light commercial vehicle market.

The Magic Iris is a five-seater diesel carrier and is competing for the segment currently catered to by three-wheelers. The Ace Zip is the smallest truck in the Tata line-up and is best suited as a last-mile solution. The vehicles are targeted at the segment presently dominated by Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra, Piaggio, Force Motors, TVS Motors and Atul Auto.

The BS III version Magic Iris is priced at Rs 195,000 and the Ace Zip is priced at Rs 190,000 (ex-showroom, Thane). Both are a watered-down version of Ace Magic and Ace, which carry higher price tags.

The company plans to produce 100,000 units of the models from its unit in Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. According to Tata Motors, the market for mini trucks posted a growth of 46 per cent last year at nearly 200,000 units, while the three-wheelers grew 13 per cent at 80,000 units. While the entire domestic four-wheeled segment is expected to grow to 990,000 units by 2014-15 from 393,000 units presently, the three-wheeler segment is expected to grow to 174,000 units by the same time from 131,000 units.

A CNG variant and a BS IV variant of Iris and Ace Zip will also be launched in the subsequent months. The company is presently holding discussions with various state transport authorities to gain better access in those states, a senior official of the company stated.