SCANIA TO SET UP MFG. PLANT IN BANGALORE

Scania Commercial Vehicles India will be setting up a new plant in the Narasapura industrial area in Bangalore. The company will be investing Rs 2.25 billion in this unit over the next five years with Rs 1.50 billion being invested in the coming year. The first truck will be rolling out by 2013. Initially, the plant will assemble bus and trucks as a CKD. At a later point, Scania also plans to include coach building and service workshops to this facility. Within the next five years, the company plans to roll out 2000 heavy haulage trucks and 1000 inter-city coaches and buses from its plant

PACCAR MAY LAUNCH DAF TRUCKS IN INDIA

U.S. commercial-vehicle maker Paccar Inc. is studying the possibility of introducing heavy-duty trucks in India from its Dutch unit DAF Trucks NV, as it attempts to expedite its global growth by tapping into emerging markets and partly offset a slowdown in Europe.
Donald Schulte, managing director for India initiatives at Paccar, in a recent interview said the company is considering options to either sell imported fully-built trucks in India or to build an assembly plant.
A foray into India by Paccar would put it into competition with other global truck makers such as Daimler AG, Volvo AB, MAN AG and Navistar International Corp. who already operate here either via their own units or with joint ventures with local companies.
A total of 499,965 trucks and buses were sold in India during April-November 2011, up 20% from a year earlier, according to data issued by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. The market is dominated by Indian companies such as Tata Motors Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Ashok Leyland Ltd.
"We see India as a major commercial-vehicle market that is growing," Mr. Schulte said. "We always take a long-term view of a market and we are studying our options for India."
He said Paccar doesn't have a definite time frame to commence operations in India.
Paccar is participating at the ongoing Auto Expo in New Delhi with its DAF brand of trucks. DAF trucks are currently made only in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and in Westerlo in Belgium.
"We see infrastructure investments, increasing buying power of people will make it a very compelling investment in India for those who want to have a long-term investment," Mr. Schulte said.
Bellevue, Wash.-based Paccar is the second-largest seller of heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. behind Daimler's Freightliner brand. Its North American truck brands are Kenworth and Peterbilt.
As part of its steps to expand in emerging markets, Paccar said recently it had begun constructing an assembly plant for DAF-brand trucks in Ponta Grossa, Brazil. But the company has said it would scale back truck production in Europe.
The company last year started a technical center in the western Indian city of Pune in partnership with KPIT Cummins Infosystems Ltd. Mr. Schulte said the Pune center is the third such facility for Paccar after the U.S. and the Netherlands.
He said staff count in Pune will be expanded to 200 by the end of December from 25 now.

Auto Expo 2012: Man Force forays into bus segment; unveils 'Man Airobus'

Commercial vehicle maker Man Force Trucks on Saturday announced its foray into the bus segment and said the company is eyeing a 50 per cent jump in overall sales at 6,000 units this year.

The company, which today launched 'Man Airobus' at the 11th Auto Expo here, said bookings for the Rs 60 lakh priced-bus have already started and it plans to sell around 250 units by the year-end.

"Entering into the bus segment is an extension of our product portfolio as we try to become a full scale commercial vehicle manufacturer. The bus segment is a growing market in India," Man Force Trucks Managing Director Sudhir Mehta told PTI on the sidelines of the Expo.

He said the 'Airobus' is placed in the market between the premium bus and rear-engine bus. The new product is a 45 seater inter-city air-conditioned coach powered by 220hp diesel engine. It is being manufactured at the company's facility at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, where it has production capacity to make 24,000 trucks a year.

Asked about its sales target this year, Mehta said, "Last year, we had around 4,000 trucks. This year, we plan to sell around 6,000 units including the bus."

Besides, the company said it has lined up three-four trucks to be launched this year.

Last year, Pune-based Force Motors had announced to exit the JV by selling 5.58 lakh shares for 150 million euro (over Rs 1,050 crore) to the Germany-based MAN. "We are still in the process of exiting from the joint venture. The exit will not have any impact on the quality of the existing products," Man Force Trucks Chairman Abhay Firodia said.

Force Motors and MAN formed the joint venture company in 2006. At the time of formation of the JV, the Indian firm was the majority partner with 80 per cent stake, which became a 50:50 partnership in 2008.

TATA MOTORS UNVEILS 3 NEW VEHICLES ( After Maret Spare Parts Dealers should be increase Inventory from 2013 Mid)

Tata Motors today unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 the company's new LCV & ICV range, and the Tata LPT 3723, India's first 5-axle rigid truck. They will be commercially launched in the next financial year.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. P.M. Telang, Managing Director - India Operations, said, the LPT 3723 will create new segments and generate higher incomes for their owners. As importantly, we are displaying our progress with alternate fuel technologies towards a more comprehensive portfolio for the future."

The Tata Ultra LCV & ICV range will comprise a series of variants from 5 to 14 tonnes. The range will be powered by new generation 3L (138 HP) and 5L (168 HP) common rail (DiCOR) 16-valve engines, offering higher aggregate life, longer service intervals and low NVH.
The sleek and elegant walk-through steel cabin, a dash-mounted cable shift gear and hydraulic cabin tilt mechanism make the driver at home. Ergonomically designed mechanically suspended seats with integral headrest, power steering, which is tiltable, telescopic and collapsible, and clear-lens headlamps will make long drives stress-free in all weather conditions. The instrument cluster -- showing live and trip mileage, clutch and brake wear indicator, seat and door ajar warning, water-in-fuel indicator, economy assistance -- permits continuous vehicle monitoring in drive.
The Ultra's high strength Domex 650 steel rolled chassis frame with high tensile strength and straight long member construction allows the platform the flexibility of multiple wheel bases at multiple payload points. Radial tyres, parabolic leaf springs, tuned shock absorbers and, for the first time in the category, disc brakes ensure safe transit of goods.

The Tata LPT 3723 is India's first 5-axle rigid truck. With a payload of 25 tonnes (ideal for cement and steel movement), it will radically change transportation economics by reducing he cost/tonne-km.
It is powered by a Cummins 6BT 5.9L engine (154 kW power at 2500 rpm) and mated with a 9-speed gearbox, the first in a rigid truck in India. Twin steerable front axles, a twin-drive axle and a tag-lift axle, the only truck to have such a technology, reduces tyre and fuel costs. The turning circle diameter of 21.9 metres makes it more manoeuverable than a tractor-trailer. The air-conditioned cabin, ergonomic dashboard and instrument cluster and stylish interior trims give drivers the comfort to cover longer distances at a stretch.

Tata Ultra 714 truck: Powered by a DICOR 3L engine, the Tata Ultra 714 truck delivers 138 HP and torque of 360 Nm. The truck comes loaded with features like a roof hatch, 12V utility socket, music system, digital clock, cab tilt lock indicator, low fuel level indicator lamp, brake lining wear indicator, air filter service electrical indicator, water in fuel indicator, door ajar lamp and leather finish dashboard.

Tata Ultra 1017 truck: The Tata Ultra 1017 truck comes with a DICOR 5L engine, delivers 168 HP and a torque of 590 Nm. The truck offers HVAC, cruise control, ABS, suspended driver seat, 12V utility socket, music system, power window, electrical mirror, centralised locking, Tachograph Telematics (GPS), digital clock, cab tilt lock indicator, low fuel level indicator lamp, brake lining wear indicator, door ajar indicator, air filter service electrical Indicator, water in fuel indicator, alloy wheels, low washer fluid indicator and leather finish dashboard.

Volvo launches new range of buses

By 2015, it expects more than 50 % of sales to come from Asia

Volvo on Thursday launched its new range of buses, comprising city bus and coaches, aimed at inter-State routes and cities. The expanded range of Volvo buses in India now includes three new models that are the first-of-its kind in the country and takes the company's bus range to ten different products.

Stating all of developments follow just three months after Volvo announced its ambition to be a $1-billion company in the coming years, Volvo Bus Corporation President Hakan Karlsson said: “About three months ago we promised that we will play a bigger role in the progress of the Indian bus industry and announced an investment of Rs.400 crore. Today, we stand here with a product range that will take us there.”

“Our focus remains to drive quality of life and with our current range we will be spreading the Volvo experience to a larger market in the country. We have defined a clear role for India in the future — as one of the largest markets in the group, a global hub for selected models, local product development and that utilises the synergies we hold as a group in India,” he added.

Mr. Karlsson also pointed out that by 2015, Volvo expected that more than 50 per cent of its sales would come from Asia, mainly China and India.

“We are developing a global hybrid and we will showcase it in the upcoming Auto Expo here…this bus will be launched in India in future.

“We also plan to export buses from India to South America like Mexico and Europe,” he added.

According to Volvo Buses Managing Director and CEO (South Asia) Akash Passey, “We now have the local competence and experience to raise the momentum of change manifold. This is just as we expand our market access and raise standards and expectations.

We are on our way to reaching our vision of a $1 billion company with 5,000 buses produced each year by 2015.”

The company is now selling about 1,000 units every year.

Force Motors to launch new variants, products

Force Motors is aggressively focusing on its newest vertical, the personal vehicle devision, to shed its commercial vehicle maker tag. It will display two variants of its SUV, Force One, at the Delhi Auto Expo next month.

""We will show a four-wheel drive and a concept luxury weekend getaway versions at the Auto Expo, with the latter having luxurious interiors,"" said Prasan Firodia, managing director, Force Motors. He added, ""We will also show a new 26-seater monocoque bus which will go into regular production by April 2011.""

The bus will also have two variants, a luxury version which will seat between 10-18 people and the standard 26-seater. Firodia said these buses are targeted at inter- and intra-city needs with the luxury bus being a scaled down version of the standard-setting Volvo luxury coaches. He declined to reveal the price or the names of these products which wil be anounced in Delhi on January 6.

The bus has been developed internally and is not part of the technical collaboration agreement Force Motors has signed with Daimler AG for vans. Those vehicles are still a year away, Firodia said. The passenger and commercial vehicle maker will also show its hybrid Traveller coach while it plans tyo offer CNG on its small commercial vehicle, the Trump

Tata Motors launches new bus models Divo and Starbus Ultra

 Tata Motors Tuesday launched two new bus models, Divo and Starbus Ultra, priced, respectively, at Rs.66 lakh and Rs.15 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi).

The company said the two models will cater to the growing needs of urban public transport. "With the introduction of the Tata Divo and the Tata Starbus Ultra the company will more comprehensively address the burgeoning need of public transportation," said Ravi Pisharody, president, commercial vehicles business unit.

Divo is a luxury air conditioned coach for inter-city passenger transportation and tourist operations. The bus's design component comes from the company's Spain-based subsidiary Hispano Carrocera.

"Divo offers customised interior features such as different seating layouts in semi-sleeper and seater configurations, wide seats with recline, head flaps and armrests," Pisharody said in a statement.

The bus also sports unique features such as entertainment system, refrigerator, mobile charging points, destination board and public address system.

Divo is powered by a 285 HP Cummins engine coupled with a six-speed overdrive gearbox for higher fuel efficiency.

On the other hand, Starbus Ultra is meant for intra-city transport and is available in luxury, standard, school and deluxe variants.

"These (variants) are available in different seating configurations of 22-46 seater, on different wheelbases," the statement said.

The bus is powered by 497 engine coupled with a six-speed gearbox with overdrive and cable shift mechanism.

Hyundai plans to launch commercial vehicles in India soon

Tokyo: Korean auto major Hyundai Motor on Thursday said it is currently studying the Indian market to launch commercial vehicles as part of its global plan to strengthen the segment.

To begin with, the company that mainly sells compact cars in India, is considering to introduce high-end and premium trucks in the country.

A file photo of a Hyundai plant

“There are lots of possibilities to launch commercial vehicles in India. We are currently studying the Indian market. So, we are planning,” Hyundai Motor Company deputy general manager (commercial vehicle marketing team) J. D. Lee told the news agency on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show.
Asked by when the company could launch the commercial vehicles in India, he said, “We hope to launch it very soon.”
Without giving details, Lee said the company is looking at high-end and premium trucks for the Indian market initially. Besides, it is also considering at introducing buses as well.
“We are trying to launch high-end and premium trucks. As far as the models that we have, I think it is not a problem. We have many models all over the world,” he added.
He said the company took time to enter the Indian commercial vehicles market as the low cost ones used to be more attractive there, which is changing now.
“Premium model truck is attractive (now) for the Indian market but we think bus is also profitable,” Lee said, adding the company is deciding which model will be launched.
“Then, we will decide how many units. It is not enough to just launch a product, we have to think about the service part also and that is taking time,” he added.
The company, which Thursday showcased a new luxury bus ‘Universe’ here, said it has gradually expanded its presence in the commercial vehicle segment over the last few years, starting with Japan and South Africa.
Besides, last year it had entered Spain, China, Vietnam and Pakistan as well.

SML ISUZU LAUNCHES MOST POWER FUL TRUCK IN 12T

SML Isuzu Ltd., the joint venture of Swaraj Mazda Ltd., Isuzu Motor Corporation and Sumitomo, has launched the first Isuzu branded truck, marking the entry of Isuzu into the Indian truck segment. The first truck launched with the Isuzu badge is a 12-ton GVW medium duty cargo truck.

The Isuzu IS12T was launched in Chennai and the first vehicle was handed over to Gaurda Logistics. The all-new Isuzu IS12T is fitted with Isuzu 150 hp, 4-cylinder, BS 3 common rail engine and 6-speed Isuzu gear box, making it the most powerful in its class. Both the engine and gearbox are imported directly from Isuzu, Japan.

The vehicle comes with three chassis options – cab and chassis, cab with load body and cab with high deck body. The fully-built truck with cab and cargo body is priced at Rs. 14 lakhs.

This is the first launch for SML Isuzu in the higher hp segment. Normally in this segment most trucks are fitted with 100 to 125 hp engine. The Isuzu IS12T is the first in the segment to be fitted with 150 hp engine. This helps in faster turnaround time resulting in more trips and more productivity for the customer.

The truck is built with more powerful aggregates for heavy duty applications, including Meritor axles, Wabco brake systems and Rane power steering system. It comes with power steering as a standard feature.
What’s interesting is that the company has launched a 12-tonner, which is closer to the existing range of light and medium duty trucks that the company offers. It’s a more sensible move, instead of directly entering the 16-tonner heavy truck segment, which is a completely different segment with different customers and expectations.

SML Isuzu manufactures and sells light commercial vehicles for goods and passenger applications. Its products include ambulances, buses, dual cabs, and trucks. Currently majority of the stake is held by the Japanese giant Sumitomo Corporation (54.9 per cent). Isuzu own (four per cent) and P/E player Actis holds 5.6 per cent. Isuzu is seriously interested to increase its current stake and take control of the company. Isuzu is leading manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks, and Swaraj Mazda is a perfect fit for its Indian dreams.

KAMAZ VECTRA STEBILISES MARKET IN INDIA

Russian truck major Kamaz is in India for the long term. With over 200 trucks on Indian roads within six months of its launch, Kamaz Vectra Motors Ltd. (KVML) has laid strong foundation for future growth in India. Among the many global players that’ve entered the Indian market in the last few years, Kamaz is showing a lot of promise and commitment. For Kamaz, India is not just another market, but “It is the most important market for its future growth”.

KVML is a joint venture between Kamaz OJSC and the Vectra Group (51:49). The company offers its 31-tonner dump truck Kamaz-6540 (8x4) with 19-t legal payload. With more orders for trucks on hand, the company has announced expansion of its product range. “We will launch the 6X4 tipper and 4X2 tractor in September 2011 and 6X4 heavy duty tractor by November. All these products are currently undergoing test. By the end of this year, we will have the complete range to offer – 8X4 tipper, 6X4 tipper, 4X2 tractors and 6X4 tractors”, says Mr. Denis Trifonov, CEO of KVML.

KVML has set up a plant at Hosur with an annual capacity to produce 5,000 trucks. Currently the company is assembling the Kamaz-6540 tipper, and it will shortly start production of tractors Kamaz-5460 (4X2) and Kamaz-6460 (6X4), as well as Kamaz-6520 dump trucks. The company has localized most of the key aggregates achieving over 70 per cent indigenisation. With the existing products and the proposed launch of new products, the company has set an ambitious target to sell 2,500 units during 2011-12. The company commands 18 per cent share in the 8X4 truck market in the very first year.

SCANIA AGGRESSIVE ENTRY INTO INDIAN CV - STARTED BANGLORE PLANT

In 2011, Scania completes 100 years of its existence, and the company has taken the important decision to enlarge its presence in the Indian commercial vehicle market.

Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy trucks, buses, and industrial and marine engines. In 2010, it clocked a turnover of 8,700 million euro by selling 56,837 trucks, 6,876 buses and 6,526 engines. Operating in more than 100 countries, Europe is the company’s main market, accounting for 39 per cent of its sales. Latin America accounts for 32 per cent, Asia 19 per cent, Africa and Oceania five per cent each and Euroasia four per cent.

Scania entered India in 2007 in partnership with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for selling its high-end tippers in the Indian mining market. The company currently offers Scania P380, a 380hp tipper truck for mining applications. Till date the company has sold over 600 tipper trucks in India. Currently these trucks are imported as fully-built units with the tipper bodies being sourced locally. After a careful study of the Indian market and the potential it offers for high-performance trucks and buses, Scania has taken the next big step of setting up an

TATA MULTI AXLE 3118 8X2 TRUCK WITH LIFT AXLE

Multi-axle 8X2 segment

One of the biggest success stories for Tata Motors in recent years in the truck segment has been the 3118, 8X2 4 axle truck. Initially the haulage market moved from the 4X2 to the 6X2 multi-axle truck, and this has now moved to the 8X2 segment.

He said: “Within the multi-axle segment, we are seeing an increasing trend towards the 4-axle from the 3-axle truck. We expect the multi-axle truck markets to move to 8X2. Our 3118 8X2 model is the largest selling model in its segment. Till the first half of 2010-11, the 25-tonner multi-axle truck used to be the largest selling truck in the M&HCV segment. But from the second half of last year and in the current year, we see the 3118 doing very well”.

The 8X2 makes business sense for the operator as it offers better operating economics. You get 6 tonnes of additional payload. Tata Motors is offering its 8X2 truck with lift axle, which reduces the tyre life and fuel consumption during empty return trips, resulting in better operating economics.

Today the 8X2 truck has become a well-accepted model for all applications, including market loads, tankers, transportation of cement bags and others. The industry size for 8X2 trucks is around 4,500 vehicles, of which Tata Motors sells around 3,500 vehicles every month.

DAILMER RECEIVES RBI NOD FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

Daimler AG has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to set up a non-banking finance company for its financial services business in India. The new company, Daimler Financial Services India Private Ltd., will be a 100 per cent subsidiary of Daimler AG and is expected to be operational in the third quarter 2011.

“With business activities in over 40 countries, Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading automotive financial services companies in the world. Every second passenger car and every fourth commercial vehicle from Daimler is financed or leased by us. India is one of the fastest growing automotive markets and the Daimler Group has high expectations from this market,” said Richard Howard, Member on the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services AG responsible for Africa and Asia/Pacific.

Daimler Financial Services India will support the sales of Mercedes-Benz cars and Daimler trucks as there is a large demand for financing solutions in the market. It will initially invest upwards of $50 million as part of market entry.

“By providing innovative and customized finance and insurance solutions to dealers and customers, we intend to enrich the ownership experience of Mercedes-Benz and BharatBenz branded automotive products, under the Mercedes-Benz Financial and BharatBenz Financial labels”, said Mr. Sidhartha Nair, Managing Director, Daimler Financial Services India Private Ltd.

The product range of the new company will include financing, leasing, insurance and dealer financing for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars at market launch. The commercial vehicle finance products will be offered, for the newly developed Daimler truck brand for the Indian market, BharatBenz, in 2012, after the start of truck production in Oragadam, close to Chennai.

Daimler Financial Services AG has shown strong growth in the three other “BRIC markets”. Until year-end 2010, the contract volume of Daimler Financial Services in Russia increased by 25 per cent compared to the year before. In Brazil the increase was 35 per cent and in China even 100 per cent

MAN-SINTRUK JOINT BRAND FOR ASIAN MARKETS

MAN and Sinotruk have unveiled a new joint truck brand for China and other growth markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Known internationally as SITRAK, the truck brand will be marketed under the Chinese name Shandeka in the home market of China. With three stylized ginkgo leaves, which symbolize endurance and vitality in Asia and act as the logo, the brand name stands for the good partnership between MAN and Sinotruk.

While sales in China will be exclusively via Sinotruk, export markets will be served by the existing sales networks of MAN and Sinotruk. MAN will also participate in the sales in China as a result of its direct interest in Sinotruk. The companies expect yearly sales to total 200,000 trucks by 2018, of which 160,000 are for the Chinese market.

Sinotruk and MAN showcased the new brand’s first product, the SITRAK T7H, at their joint trade fair stand in Shanghai. The heavy-duty T7H truck combines Sinotruk’s components and MAN technology. The T7H is due to go into production at the Jinan site in China in December next. Chinese customers will already be able to order the new truck in the first six months of 2012, while sale for export is slated for the second half of 2012.

Sinotruk and MAN are co-operating on two levels: provision of capital and transfer of technology and management expertise. MAN invested Euro 560 million in Sinotruk in 2009 and has a direct interest in the Chinese manufacturer with a 25 per cent stake plus one share. The transfer of technology and management expertise is based on a contract signed by both partners regarding the granting of technology licences.

MAN went into partnership with the Heavy Duty Truck Corporation (today Sinotruk) way back in 1983 for the construction and licensing of Steyr trucks. Sinotruk and MAN are thus united by a long history of working together. Trust is the very backbone of this co-operation.

“In just a short period of time, Sinotruk and MAN have developed a new truck brand, which we present to you together today at the Shanghai Auto Show. This day is a milestone for Sinotruk, since SITRAK will now enable us to offer our customers a Chinese truck with state-of-the-art technology,” said Chunji Ma, Supervisory Board Chairman of Sinotruk.

MAN CEO Dr. Georg Pachta-Reyhofen said: “With SITRAK, we are adding a key element to our BRIC strategy. This heavy truck that is ‘made in China’ complements MAN’s product and brand portfolio perfectly. Thanks to the excellent partnership with Sinotruk, we are able to take another important step in MAN’s global expansion today.”

Sinotruk is one of the largest truck manufacturers worldwide and is one of the few producers in China that can look back on a 50-year history. Sinotruk is considered a heavy truck specialist, especially in China, but has significantly expanded its activities in recent years to include light commercial vehicles and construction vehicles. In 2010 the CNHTC Group generated revenue of Euro 8.05 billion. It also sold around 200,000 trucks, 60 per cent more than in the previous year.

MAN Truck & Bus AG, headquartered in Munich, is the largest company of the MAN Group and a leading international supplier of efficient commercial vehicles and innovative transport solutions. In fiscal 2010 the enterprise, with around 31,000 employees, posted sales of more than 55,000 trucks and over 5,400 buses and bus chassis of the MAN and NEOPLAN brands worth 7.4 billion euros.