The Hindu Business Line : Vehicle makers rolling out higher tonnage trucks

Chennai, Jan. 5 With better roads and (consequent) preference for higher tonnage trucks, manufacturers of commercial vehicles have begun to launch the 49-tonners. In the last two weeks, Tata Motors and Asia Motor Works launched their products in this segment.

The next will be Ashok Leyland, with its second offering in this segment. Earlier, the company had launched the ‘4921 tractor-trailer’ – a 49-tonne GVW truck powered by a 210 hp engine. So far it has sold around 600 vehicles. The new offering, expected shortly, will be a vehicle of a similar carrying capacity, but powered by a 350 hp engine.

Market value

The market for these high capacity vehicles is estimated at around 3,000 units a year, about Rs 750 crore in value terms. This niche segment is found to be attractive because of higher margins. Further, this segment is expected to grow fast, although it is too early to say by how much.

In addition to the ‘4935’, Ashok Leyland would be unveiling two more vehicles – 3135 multi-axle tractor-trailer and 3121 multi-axle tippers, Mr Rajive Saharia, Executive Director, Ashok Leyland, told presspersons on Friday.

Multi-axle tippers

The market for these high-capacity tippers has been growing – it grew 23 per cent (31,028 units) in 2007-08, compared with 7 per cent in the previous year.

The 3135 multi-axle tipper, to be displayed at the Auto Expo is targeted at mining sector, as the demand for vehicles to take up more loads and negotiate higher gradient increased due to mines getting deeper, he said.

At present, both 4935 and 3135 are being test marketed, and the commercial launch will be during the next financial year.

While the market for small vehicles (below 3.5-tonnes) and for very large vehicles (over 35 tonnes) has been growing, demand for trucks in the range in-between has slackened.