In line with its plans to enter the inter-city luxury bus segment in a year and a half, Mahindra Navistar is working on a new 4-cylinder diesel engine.

“We're looking at a smaller 4-cylinder engine. Our current engine is of Brazilian design, but fully localised at Chakan. The same company (MWM), a Navistar subsidiary, also has a four-cylinder platform, which we are going to use,” Mr Nalin Mehta, Managing Director, Mahindra Navistar Automotives told Business Line .

He added, “Buses are a strong candidate for this, apart from commercial vehicles likely in the 7.5 to 9 tonne range (intermediate commercial vehicles-ICVs).”

The new power plant, expected to put out around 100-180 HP of power, will also help the company compete in the CV market with a lower tonnage demand and with a lower-priced product range.

Second offering

This will be the second engine on offer after the current 7.2-litre six-cylinder ‘Maxxforce' engine that it uses on its heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) range in two — 210 HP and 260 HP — versions. Asked if a CNG version is also planned, he said: “At an appropriate time, we will talk about it.”

Mr Mehta said that apart from the new 16-tonne bus platform, which may also spawn multi-axle and city bus variants, the company will also launch a 49-tonne tractor/trailer and a 25-tonne heavy-duty tipper (for mining) in the first half of next fiscal.

With investments of around Rs 950 crore, Mahindra Navistar is planning a major network expansion across the country.

Over the next six months, it plans to take up service points to 1,000 from 750, while increasing 3S outlets (Sales, Service and Spares) to 100 by next fiscal from 43 now.

roudra.b@thehindu.co.in

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