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Despite slowdown and decline in sales, passenger vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland today launched two light commercial vehicles (LCV) Partner Truck and MiTR bus in Pune. This is the latest offering from Ashok-Leyland- Nissan joint venture after Dost and Stile. The JV was formed in 2007.
Commenting on this, V Sumantran, vice chairman, Ashok Leyland said, "With this, we have completed first phase of this joint venture by launching three vehicles in the last two years. The triology is completed and now, we are looking forward to imtroduce diffrent varinats of these vehicles. We may introduce CNG and automatic transmission versions of buses and trucks within a years time. This is our effort to give best quality Japanese products at Indian cost. These are the same vehicles sold in Japan currently and we are bringing the same advanced technology products to India."
However, Ashok Lleyland has recorded 26 per cent decline in its total sales at 7,847 units in January 2014. Ashok Leyland holds market share of 16 per cent in LCVs. Sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) dropped 37% to 2,317 units in January 2014 over January 2013.
The newly launched Partner, a truck with 6.6 tonne GVW (gross vehicle weight) and MiTR, a 27-seater bus. These vehicles are developed on F24 LCV platform that is being used by Nissan. Partner will cater application areas such as retail, freight forwarding, refrigerated transportation and MiTR will target both staff transportation and school bus segments. Power steering is the standard option in both the vehicles. MiTR is priced at Rs .12.49 lakh.
MiTR also has a school bus variant that adheres to school bus body code guidelines of all state governments.Partner will come in two wheel base options with an optional AC system and the price range will be from Rs .8.89 lakh to Rs .9.49 lakh depending on the wheel base, AC or non-AC options. Both PARTNER and MiTR are powered by an advanced ZD30 Common Rail diesel engine.
The annual market size for Partner and MiTR segments are estimated at 30,000 units and 35,000 units, respectively.
These vehicles will compete with Tata Motors, Mahindra Trucks & Buses and Eicher in their respective segments.
