Atul Auto to roll out new three-wheeler

Rajkot-based Atul Auto will launch Atul Shakti Plus, a new diesel variant of 0.5 tonne, by July this year. The engine is bought from Lombardini, India "" a subsidiary of Lombardini, Italy.

"We are launching Shakti Plus within next two months in both cargo and passenger categories with a new generation engine from Lombardini, " Jayanti Shah, chief managing director of Atul Auto told Business Standard.

The vehicle will give an average of 40 kms per litre and will comply with the Euro III standards and the new norms that will be announced in 2008, he added.

Shakti is currently available in both CNG and diesel categories and gives a mileage of 33 km.

It will have add-on features like FM radio, battery charger among others.

Shakti Plus comes with a warranty of nine months and will have a loading capacity of around 500 kg.

The price of the vehicle has not been finalised but will be decided soon, he added.

The company controls about 50 per cent market share in the 0.5 tonne segment in the state.

It sells around 1,700 vehicles per month in the country of which 900 are sold in the state.

The company has also set its sights to target the north Indian market aggressively with its new new plant in Haridwar having a production capacity of 3,600 per month that start commercial production in the next three months.

"The Haridwar plant will cater to the north Indian market," he said. The turnover of the company last year was around Rs 170 crore.

It may be noted that Mahindra & Mahindra had launched Champion Alfa 0.5 tonne last week in Gujarat and the company expects to capture 15-20 per cent in the first year of its launch in the state.