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Eicher Trucks and Buses, a part of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV), on Monday unveiled the country’s first BS-VI compliant light-duty trucks — the Eicher Pro 2000 series.
The new range will be available in two variants — the Eicher Pro 2049 and the Eicher Pro 2095XP.
“We have a superior and long-standing expertise in manufacturing and exporting base engines for Ethe uro-VI requirements of the Volvo Group for the last six years. This extensive experience with Euro-VI gives us the first-mover advantage to deliver products engineered to cater to the new emission norms in the country,” said Vinod Aggarwal, MD and CEO, VECV.
“The select models that we unveiled will be fuelled by our two new BS-VI engine platforms, equipped with an all-new state-of-the-art cabin and industry-first features,” added Aggarwal. VECV is a joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Ltd.
The Eicher Pro 2000 series will be available in BS-IV range across markets from Monday.
The Eicher Pro 2049 10ft HSD is priced at ₹9.1 lakh, while the Eicher Pro 2095 XP 19ft HSD is priced at ₹16.4 lakh.
New features
The BS-VI range will be made available as and when the BS-VI fuel is ready, and the prices for the same are still unknown.
The new series will come with two new engine platforms, which the company said are built to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency and a range of power options compliant with BS-VI emission standards.
This new range of trucks will also expand the light-duty portfolio of Eicher, address a wider range of applications, and help enter new segments, the company said.
Aggarwal said that the company has always believed in investing rigorously in R&D to stay ahead in the industry by improving transportation efficiency, and the Pro 2000 series is a testament to that mission.
He added: “We are leaders and innovators of the Indian LMD trucks market, and the new Eicher Pro 2000 series takes logistics and intra-city distribution to the next level, focussing on the driver and his comfort.”
The new range has two new smart cabins developed for safe and comfortable driver operation in 1.8 m and 2.0 m configurations.
The company said the trucks are equipped with features such as a touch-screen infotainment system with android, bluetooth and telematics connectivity. With better cabin comfort, they will offer a “car-like cabin experience”.
Aggarwal said that this new range of trucks will be sold in the South-East Asian markets, where they are set to compete mainly with Japanese trucks.
Industry conditions
Speaking about the challenges in the CV industry, Aggarwal said that liquidity constraints and the axle load norms have weighed on the overall growth.
The economic slowdown has taken its toll on the CV industry too, he said.
He exuded hope that the new government will take steps to resolve the liquidity crisis and boost the economy.
He also expects the government to come up with new norms for the scrapping of old trucks, as well as a rationalise the GST rates in the auto sector.
The expectation of good monsoons and a buoyant rural economy will also ensure growth, he said.
He also expects the business to start growing from September, due to the pre-BS-VI buying.
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