Ashok Leyland, Nissan set 150,000-unit sales target

Ashok Leyland, which rolled out its light commercial vehicle (LCV) 'Dost' on Friday last, has set a target of 140,000 vehicles for the next three years. Though the 'Dost' was jointly developed along with its Japanese partner Nissan, it was manufactured at Ashok Leyland's Hosur facility. The two partners are betting big on the new premium vehicle segment.

According to V Sumantran, executive vice chairman, Hinduja Automotive Ltd, and chairman, Nissan Ashok Leyland Powertrain Ltd, the the new vehicles will be on three different platforms and the two companies will sell the products on their own respective brands.

While the first vehicle will be from Ashok Leyland, the second would be rolled out from Nissan's Oragadam facility and the third from Ashok Leyland's facility.

Sumantran said the joint venture partners had planned an outlay of Rs 2,400 crore, and would launch two more vehicles before 2013. In Phase I, the investment would be Rs 1,500 crore to launch three vehicles, while in Phase II, the joint venture partners would set up a greenfield facility at Pillaipakkam, near Chennai.

According to Andy Palmer, executive vice president, Nissan Motors Company, and chairman, Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Ltd, said the joint venture would help the company to become No 1 player in the LCV segment. The company has sold 850,000 vehicles worldwide last year.

“India is one of the key markets for our growth and the joint venture would mark Nissan's entry in the low cost segment,” said Palmer.

Sumantran said Nissan's vehicles would not be displayed in Leyland's network and vice versa. He added that Ashok Leyland's focus had been on commercial side, while Nissan's has been more on the personal segemnt.