The Hindu Business Line : Conex designs sub one-tonne carrier prototype

Conex Avio Auto is the latest entrant to join the bandwagon of auto manufacturers who are eyeing the sub one-tonne carrier segment currently dominated by Tata Motors's Ace.

Design details

The auto ancillary based in Pune has designed a goods and passenger carrier with 10-seater capacity. It shall have a Lombardini engine and according to Mr Avinash Belgamwar, Managing Director, "it will take three months to develop the design." The company will build the prototype and later get it approved through ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), a testing agency.

Unlike other manufacturers, Conex will only design and build the prototype. Mr Belgamwar said, "We are fabricators, not manufacturers and therefore shall sell our design to the promising company." Thus a prospective company, which intends entering this emerging segment gets the design and development outsourced and therefore can focus on other issues pertaining to the launch of the product.

Other players

With the on-going success of Tata's Ace, several players like Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), TVS Motors, Eicher, Piaggio, Ashok Leyland, Atul Auto, Swaraj Mazda and Bajaj are eyeing the new segment. In fact most of the competitors are developing their respective carriers with the Tata Ace in mind. While other players gear up to launch their respective carriers, Tata Motors is about to launch the passenger version of Tata Ace.

According to officials, the variant is most likely to be introduced by early next year. The company has plans to sell 100,000 units during 2006-07.

With an annual production capacity of 60,000 units at its Pune plant, the company has decided to set up another production facility at Panthnagar in Uttaranchal.

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