Tata Motors to roll out new range of LCVs by 2010-end

On the sidelines of showcasing its range of commercial vehicles at the just-concluded Auto Expo , Tata Motors has told reporters that it will roll out its new range of LCVs in the 3.5-9 tonne category by the end of this year. The range will comprise school buses, contract carriers, short distance intercity transport and the platform will also capable of rolling out 14-40 seater buses.

Furthermore, India's largest commercial vehiclemaker has lined up around 12-15 new models in the commercial vehicle segment, including Prima range of world trucks, over the next 12 months. However, Tata Motors is looking to roll out a 40-seat bus based on the 9 tonne LCV platform in the initial phase.

"The company has developed all the new range of LCVs platform in the 3.5-9 tonne category based on the Prima range of commercial vehicles. The range will be launched in the next financial year starting October," Ravi Pisharody, president, commercial vehicles, Tata Motors \told reporters at the Auto Expo. The range of LCVs will also have newly developed common rail, diesel injection engine compliant with Bharat Stage IV emission norms that will come in to effect from next financial year, he added.

With respect to building of the bus, R Ramakrishnan, head, sales and marketing, commercial vehicle business unit, told DNA (a newspaper) that the company has four possibilities. "It can be either built by Hispano or Marcopolo or by Automobile Corporation of Goa (ACGL) or by an independent maker who can take our chassis and build the bus." He further said, "What the Prima platform has done for the medium and heavy commercial vehicles, the new platform will do for our LCVs. The light truck will have advanced engines, chassis etc. The platform is entirely developed by Tata Motors and is designed to build LCVs with lower kerb weight and high payload capacity."