Daimler, Force Motors to roll out high tonnage trucks

Bullish on the government's highway projects, Daimler Chrysler India and Force Motors are planning to launch high-tonnage trucks with capacities ranging from 15 to 50 tonne. Thus far, Volvo is the only company in the country marketing high-tonnage trucks.

While Daimler Chrysler will launch the Mercedes Benz Actros trucks on its own, Force Motors has tied up with MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG (MAN) of Germany to bring out MAN trucks. MAN will supply complete built-up trucks to Force Motors, which will market the vehicle in India, said sources.

"Daimler Chrysler will launch its truck in India by August. The complete truck will be shipped to India from the company's overseas manufacturing facility. The company would like to start with the lowest capacity truck. The trucks would be competitively priced despite a Daimler Chrysler premium attached to it," said a senior official in Daimler Chrysler India.

"Force Motors would launch its MAN trucks by the year-end. We are evaluating the market size for huge trucks in the country," said a senior official at Force Motors.

Volvo India has welcomed the competition. "We have not sold trucks but trucking concepts in the country has worked quite well," said an official spokesperson at Volvo India.

Mercedes Benz Actros is expected to be priced in the Rs 40-55 lakh range, said a market source. The Volvo trucks are priced in the Rs 30-55 lakh range.

The company will not launch its trucks through existing car dealers. It is establishing new tie-ups, said the Daimler official.

Over the last four-five years, Volvo has been able to sell 2,200 trucks in the 15-30 tonnage range. The trucks are available in FM 12 and FM 9 variants. "For this calendar year, the company has projected a target to sell 1,200 buses and trucks," said the Volvo spokesperson.

The critical components in Volvo trucks are imported and put together at the company's plant near Bangalore.

The trucks are fitted with new fuel-efficient engines D9 and 12D, with electronically-controlled fuel injection, a new electronics system, chassis range, cab variant, higher torque and pulling power and improved derivability.