: After holding a significant position in the heavy and medium commercial vehicle segments, Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland pegs to ramp up its presence in the light and intermediate commercial vehicle segments with the launch of two new models.
Following the successful launch of light commercial vehicle 'Dost,' the city-based auto-major unveiled 'GURU' and the first air-conditioned LCV goods vehicle 'PARTNER' here today.
Unveiling GURU and PARTNER in the intermediate and light commercial vehicles, respectively, Ashok Leyland CEO and Managing Director Vinod K Dasari said the company aims to increase the market share in the segments.
With these launches, Ashok Leyland has further strengthened its position in the market and was closer to the vision of emerging as one of the top 10 truck makers globally, he said.
"If you have to be a big player, then you must have multiple products. So, we will be launching a new product every quarter," Ashok Leyland, President, LCV and Defence, Nitin Seth told reporters here.
The domestic light commercial vehicle segment holds a market size of 35,000 units.
"We plan to introduce a new product every quarter (in LCV segment)," Seth said.
Stating that the LCV market grew in the last six months, he said, "the 6 to 7.50 tonnage category was growing at 4-5 per cent (year-on-year)... We want to capture about 20 per cent market share.. That is the intention."
After the company's tie up with Japanese auto-maker Nissan Motor, he said, "For the PARTNER we have new ZD30 Common Rail diesel engine BSIV variant which is now made in Ashok Leyland (unlike the earlier engine manufactured at Nissan plant near Chennai)".
"This engine has been modified in terms of fuel efficiency and to make it more suitable to Indian conditions" he said.
About the ICV segment, Ashok Leyland, President,
Global Trucks, Anuj Kathuria said, "under the 14 tonne category we have ECOMET and then in the premium segment, in which a single trip covers almost 1,000 kms, we have the BOSS which comes under the 10-14 tonne (categories)".
"There is another segment in which a customer looks for driver comfort, turn around time. There, we have GURU which is available in two tonnage, the 12 tonne and 14 tonne" he said.
Stating that the company holds 20 per cent market share in the ICV segment, Kathuria said, "BOSS is generally in the 9,12 and 13 tonne categories while ECOMET comes under the 10,12 and 14 tonne categories".
On the outlook for the company with today's launch of two new models, he said the plan is to achieve "leadership" position in the next couple of years.
"Leadership position means it will be more than one-third (of market share what we have now)," he said.
The 'GURU,' launched today is priced between Rs 14.35 lakh and 16.72 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai) while 'PARTNER' has been priced at Rs 10.59 lakh for the six tyre variant and Rs 10.29 lakh for the four tyre variant (all ex-showroom Chennai).
