Eicher
launched the future of Indian trucking with the introduction of its “Pro
series” at the 12th Auto Expo. The new trucks will meet the needs of the
emerging mid-premium market segment, which demands vehicles of higher power and
durability, greater comfort and value-added enhanced features at economical
cost. In addition it will continue to address the mass-market segment, which
demands trucks with value features at low cost of ownership.
Siddhartha
Lal, MD and CEO Eicher Motors Limited, said “We have taken a giant step forward
today with the launch of the Eicher Pro range. The next generation of Eicher
trucks and buses aims to continuously improve transportation efficiency in
India and the developing markets via relevant modernisation, thereby reducing
logistics costs for goods and people leading to economic growth and
productivity.”
The
Pro range, representing the future of Indian trucking, has been developed and
manufactured as a result of the synergistic working between the Volvo Group and
Eicher Motors Limited. With the launch today, the Eicher brand enters a new
phase of growth and consolidation in the commercial vehicle market.
Philippe Divry, Senior Vice President, Trucks
Joint Venture India, said “The Volvo Group has global expertise in
understanding the needs of truck customers and we have been working with the
VECV teams for more than five years now to develop new solutions for India. In
the Indian CV industry, fuel-efficiency is a major cost driver, and in this
area, the Volvo Group’s technology and Eicher’s competence in frugal
engineering have been very complementary. The new Pro series of trucks and
buses will retain and even increase the well-known Eicher leadership in this
domain.”
The
mammoth product development initiative for the entire Pro series range from
5-49 tonne gross vehicle weight involved an investment of 3 million hours of
engineering effort, 7.7 million kms of testing and 50,000 hours of engine
development. The new range will deliver higher profitability over vehicle’s
life cycle, leading to real productivity improvements through best-in-class
fuel efficiency, good driver comfort, better drivability and higher up-time.
Vinod Aggarwal, CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited, added
“We will strive to produce the most technologically advanced, fuel efficient
and safe products for our chosen markets, and provide superior up-time and
best-in-class after-sales support to our customers. The Pro range ensures a
level of quality and innovation that will continue to set standards in the
commercial transportation industry in India and the developing world.”