The Hindu Business Line : TVS Motor enters autorickshaw market

Topline addition: Mr Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor Company (right), and Mr M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration, at the launch of TVS King autorickshaw, in Chennai on Sunday. —

Our Bureau

Chennai, March 9 TVS Motor Company (TVSM) on Sunday formally launched its debutante autorickshaw TVS King, in LPG and petrol versions, marking its foray into the three-wheeler market.

The on-road price of the vehicle ranges between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1.3 lakh, depending on the models and the State in which the vehicle is being sold.

The Tamil Nadu Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration, Mr M.K. Stalin, launched the vehicle in the presence of the Transport Minister, Mr K.N. Nehru.

Describing auto-drivers as chauffeurs for the middle class in the country, Mr Stalin said the TVS King impressed him to the extent of choosing a three-wheeler to a car, especially for commuting in the city.

On the cards

Addressing the media, the Chairman and Managing Director of TVSM, Mr Venu Srinivasan, said the three-wheeler would add Rs 400 crore to the top line of the company in 18 months.

During 2008-09 the company would sell 30,000 units, which will include a four-stroke CNG version (to be launched in July) for places like Delhi.

Within 18 months the company would notch up to 30 per cent market share, he added.

Further, the company would roll out a diesel-engine hauled commercial three-wheeler in the sub-one tonne category in 18 months from now, he said.

The company has created a dedicated facility, with an installed capacity of one lakh units per year at its Hosur factory, investing Rs 120 crore.

In less than three years TVSM would fully utilise the capacity, he added.

Starting from Chennai, the company would complete the launch in the southern region before making it available pan-India by December this year.

TVSM would be leveraging its existing distribution and service network in the country, he said. Besides it would also export three-wheelers to more than 20 countries, he added.

King features

According to Mr Srinivasan, TVS King would offer about 30 km per litre of petrol due to its new 200-cc, low friction 7-port engine.

TVS King’s features include twin headlamps, large tail lamps, single larger area windshield with laminated glass.

The interiors — which include instrument cluster, dual tone seats, bottle and magazine holders — are tweaked to match that of a car.

Employee care

During the launch TVSM has also announced several welfare schemes for the autorickshaw drivers and their families, including a one-year free accident and healthcare policy.

TVSM has tied up with few insurance companies for this and the policy would cover the owner and his family against medical care for up to Rs 30,000 per annum on a floater basis.

The owner will additionally be covered by a personal accident policy for Rs 1 lakh.

Besides the company also introduced a novel training program for the drivers in safety and preventive maintenance and another programme to reward children of TVS King owner/owner-drivers, who secure the three highest marks in Class X and Class XII examinations in each State in the country.

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