Commercial vehicle market looking up in India

Top bus and truck manufacturers are set to introduce new and better models of the vehicles in the Indian commercial vehicle market. The move is thanks to the good economic conditions in the country, and the sustained expansion and improvement in transportation infrastructure. At the recent Auto Expo 2012, top players from India and abroad – Man Force, Paccar, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and AMW Motors showcased new and future models. Ashok Leyland has developed two new commercial vehicle models – Stile and Partner – in collaboration with Nissan. It has also developed a new bus named Jan Bus, which it claims is the world’s first single-step, front engine, fully-flat floor bus, designed especially for urban transportation such as the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport System), airport tarmac and normal city travel.

Truck manufacturer Man Force Trucks (a joint venture of Force Motors and Man Truck and Bus, Germany) has launched a 45-seater luxury bus, Man Airobus, with the company hoping to sell 250 units in the first year and gradually double the figure in three to four years. Paccar, the leading US truck-maker, showcased its premium 180hp DAF CF truck at Auto Expo 2012. For the present, the company is looking at India for sourcing components and developing technology for its global operations for which it is set to launch a technical centre in Pune. Tata Motors has developed a fuel cell for the Tata Starbus while Asia Motor Works (AMW) has launched a 57-seater luxury bus and plans to export trucks during 2012-13.