Expect to have 20% mkt share in initial years: Ashok Leyland

Company has 75% market share in 16-tonner trucks and 20% in Ecomet segment

Ashok Leyland is expecting to capture at least 20% market share for its new ICV Boss, which was launched in Coimbatore region today, a top company official said.

The company has registered a 20% year-on-year growth in the Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) segment.

"It has 75% market share in 16-tonner trucks and 20% in Ecomet segment. It is expecting to achieve the same level of market share for Boss, which is available in two variants," Rajive Saharia, Head, Trucks, Ashok Leyland, told reporters here.

Stating the new vehicle is rural-centric and 21 small outlets would be opened across Tamil Nadu, the first at Madurai, the next in Coimabtore, before moving to Chennai, he said depending on the success, the company would move to other states and to national level.

When asked about the company's performance, Saharia said that as such the entire truck market has witnessed a decline by 33% for the last 10 months.

Ashok Leyland, he said, was able to offset its reduced share in South by compensating from other regions, thus able to maintain its market share.

Truck sector could be one of the sectors, which would be the first to revive, once the economy and the rupee start recovering, he claimed.