Force Motors plans to launch a 9-seater van in 2 yrs

Force Motors Limited, which launched its Force One sports utility vehicle here on Tuesday, is planning to launch a 9-seater van in the next two years.

“Two months back, we signed an agreement with Mercedes Benz” in this connection, company’s managing director, Prasan Firodia, told mediapersons here on Tuesday.

He said the company, which is known for its commercial vehicles, was also looking at production of a below two-tonne capacity commercial vehicle.

Stating that Force One had been the most anticipated vehicles in the domestic market, Firodia said the SUV was sturdy, sporty and its ruggedness was ideal for Indian roads.

He was hoping to sell about 7,000 vehicles, accounting to 7 per cent of the estimated 100,000 SUVs market in the country.

The future plans of Force Motors include expansion of its dealership network from the existing 20 to 44 and launching of two new variants of Force One.

Firodia said the group's turnover was expected to touch Rs 4,500 crore during the current financial year. The group on Tuesday has around 12,000 employees.

State transport minister, Botcha Satyanarayana, inaugurated the personal vehicles division of the company on the occasion of the launch of the SUV.