On
April 9, 2014, Scania Commercial Vehicles India flagged off the first buses for
SVLL Connect of Scania Metrolink Services in Mumbai. These buses will connect
travellers from Mumbai to Surat and other destinations, according to a company
statement.
Anders
Grundströmer, Managing Director Scania Commercial Vehicles India and Senior
Vice President Scania Group said, “This is an important milestone for the
Scania Metrolink Luxury Intercity Coach. The commencement of SVLL Connect
services using the Scania Metrolink, is a proof of concept, that what Scania
has developed for India, is also well appreciated by India’s bus operators, as
well as passengers.”
As
part of the company’s strategy, Scania will inaugurate Phase II of the
company’s production facility – the bus factory in Narasapura, Karnataka, India
this year. The company is establishing a complete service and dealership
network in the country starting from South and West and later North and East.
Scania will also, going forward, focus on newer concepts like operating lease
to customers, alternate fuels, etc.
The
industrial operation at the factory currently consists of final assembly of
trucks with bodywork and will shortly begin with building of complete buses
with bodywork. The service workshop and a central parts warehouse, is housed at
the same site.
The
company inaugurated its industrial facility in Narasapura in October 2013. With
an investment of Rs. 250 crore, this facility will serve as the centre of the
company’s commercial operations in the country. Scania’s ambition is to sell
about 2,500 trucks and 1,000 buses per year in the Indian market within the
next five years and employee about 800 people at this facility.
Scania
has been represented in the Indian market since 2007, when a partnership was
initiated with Larsen & Toubro (L&T). L&T has successfully
established Scania’s trucks and services and has developed a close partnership
with customers in the off-road segment. L&T currently operates about 10
Scania service workshops at various mining sites in the country and continues
to be a trusted partner for off road including mining trucks
In 2011, Scania established the company Scania
Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. in order to boost its presence through
sales to additional segments of the Indian commercial vehicle market. Scania
recently launched a new range of on-road haulage truck models specially adapted
for the Indian market - the R 500 6x4, the G 460 6x4 and the P 410 6x2. The P
410 8x4 mining tipper was launched in December 2012.
In
the beginning of 2013 Scania launched a new bus range, especially for the
Indian market. The new bus range is a purpose-designed bus for luxury intercity
or charter travels. Scania also launched the company’s engines range in India.
Scania has been establishing a network of dealers across the south and western
regions of India covering its business areas to support the customers with the
best parts and service availability.