Chennai, June 4 (IANS) It is not just computers and laptops that can be made to order. Even a truck with a carrying capacity ranging between 18.5 ton to 55 ton can be custom built as per the customer specification, said senior officials of Ashok Leyland Ltd.
The Hinduja group flagship company Ashok Leyland on Thursday launched its modular trucks under the brand ‘AVTR’ that enables truck buyers to customise their vehicles at the time of purchase.
In the process, Ashok Leyland also cut down its inventory cost by reducing the number of unique parts by 50 per cent.
“Our new product will be a game changer for the industry. The new range can be taken to overseas markets,” Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja told reporters.
Hinduja said the past 18 months was challenging for the industry and the next few quarters will further test the industry’s resilience.
Ashok Leyland is offering 18.5 ton–55 ton capacity trucks under its AVTR brand with BS VI engine.
According to Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, the modular trucks are designed in such a manner that they can be right hand or left hand drive. The left hand drive vehicles can be taken to the global market.
Queried about the common parts and the costs saved by the company N. Saravanan, Chief Technology Officer said the number of unique parts has come down to about 4,500 to 5,000 under the modular platform from 10,000 unique parts.
While company officials remained silent on the costs saved by reduction of unique parts and the increase in volume of common parts they said the availability of parts at the service stations will not be a problem.
Earlier, truck buyers used to customise their trucks, body based on their area of operation and the type of load their vehicles carry.
But the AVTR range of modular trucks gives a truck buyer various options of axle configurations, loading spans, cabins, suspensions and drive trains enabling him to configure his vehicle best suited to his business needs.
According to Anuj Kathuria, Chief Operating Officer, there are possibilities of offering modular trucks to the defence sector. The company supplies Stallion range for the Indian defence.
–IANS
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