Merc plans to roll out 3-axle buses in India within 1 year

German automaker Mercedes-Benz will roll out its three-axle buses in India within the next 12 months while exploring the possibility of an early launch for its city buses in the country.

“We are evaluating the launch of the three-axle bus and are close to conducting the trials. We should be able to bring the product out within the next 6-12 months. We are also exploring the opportunities in the city bus segment as the situation is looking up,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Wilfried Aulbur said on Friday. He was in the city to launch the new Actros 4841K truck.

While Aulbur said that the trials for the city buses would begin next year, he did not divulge details for the launch of the vehicle.

After having registered a grim performance in the bus segment by concentrating on sales to private operators, these new offerings were likely to be aggressively marketed before the state governments and other public sector players, Aulbur said. Since entering the bus segment in September last year, the auto major has sold only 25 units in the country.

However, with the firm’s Swedish competitor Volvo capitalising on the significant orders placed on the back of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Aulbur indicated that Mercedes-Benz might also be able to cash in on the urban infrastructure programme.

“Although we will not take any irresponsible risk regarding the city bus, there could be a surprise about its actual launch,” he said.