The Hindu Business Line : KAL shifts gears to petrol engines

THE public sector Kerala Automobiles Ltd (KAL), manufacturer of diesel three-wheelers, is busy effecting a strategic shift to petrol engines with strict pollution norms and progressively chasing diesel engines out of a number of cities within the country.

KAL has already sourced technology for a four-stroke petrol engine that complies with the Bharat Stage II norms that come into force from April 2005. "No three-wheeler diesel engine would possibly be able to meet the exacting norms of Bharat Stage II. Hence the decision to go for a four-stroke petrol engine", Mr R. Sathyaseelan, Managing Director, KAL, told Business Line.

Along side, the company is also dusting up its earlier model of a two-stroke petrol engine, whose production had to be stopped in April 2000 when the Euro I norms came into force. "Since then, we have effected some modifications to get the engine comply with the Euro I norms. We have applied to the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for a `type approval' for this model. We expect the approval to be ready within the next two months, subsequent to which its commercial production would commence," Mr Sathyaseelan said.

KAL also proposes to bring out an LPG-version of the model by going through the tests-and-approval process again. According to Mr Sathyaseelan, the immediate future market belongs to LPG. Not only was LPG becoming easier to access, but filling stations were also becoming commoner. KAL has a range of CNG engines, but their market continued to be limited to Delhi and the National Capital region at large.

The existing models were being given some cosmetic changes after market feedback revealed preference in some segments for an altered cabin-front with two headlights, among others. The altered `fronts' were being sourced from outside since it did not make economic sense for the company to have its own press. In-house studies had showed as much as 85 per cent of an onsite press could remain idle. The `re-done' models would be launched in January next.

The present product range comprises of autorickshaws (three/six-seater), pickup/delivery van, three-wheeler tipper (diesel) and pollution-free, CNG-fitted auto and load carriers. Models launched in recent times include MX-400 and Jumbo, the multi-purpose three-wheeler vehicles with higher load carrying capacity.

The MX100 has been acquired in large numbers under the Government-sponsored Kudumbashree project for garbage removal. Its LPG version is also being introduced.

The company produces both `rope-start' and `kick start' versions of three-wheelers. `Rope-starts' are preferred in the northern markets of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, UP and Delhi. North India has traditionally been the company's strong market. But, now, the dealer networks are being strengthened in the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also. The new model with a re-done cabin-front would be aggressively marketed in the South, Mr Sathyaseelan said.

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