Force Motors Ltd has deferred plans for a new multi-purpose vehicle, which was to be built under licence technology from German automaker Daimler AG. The MPV was due for launch in early 2014.

Pune-based Force Motors, which makes passenger and commercial vehicles, buses and tractors, has also decided to put on the hold a new range of small commercial vehicles (SCVs) it was to introduce in the Indian market.

“We were to invest Rs 350-400 crore in the SCV project, which was a completely new family of vehicles that we would make at Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh),” Prasan Firodia, MD, Force Motors, said. The sluggish market conditions for the auto segment had prompted the company to put this project on the back-burner for now, he added.

Referring to the nine-seater MPV, Firodia said: “Right now, it’s on the slow track. We will launch it, but we are looking at doing this in 2015.”

Two years ago, the company had rolled out a plan to invest Rs 1,000 crore over three years to upgrade and expand capacity at its plant in Pithampur, and acquire more land to build a new plant for the SPV range at a different location in the vicinity.

While it has gone ahead with investments for setting up a new robotic paint shop, press shop and engine plant at its existing facility the plan to set up an altogether new plant has been postponed.

Meanwhile, the company is preparing for retailing its off-roader Gurkha from January, three variants of which are coming into the market. These, as well its current portfolio of three variants of the Force

One SUV will be sold through the 25-odd dealerships that sell its passenger vehicles. A fourth variant of the SUV is being launched in February.

Since its foray into the passenger vehicle space in October 2011, around 3,000 units of the Force One have been sold.

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