Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland bats for more scrappage boost

Ashok Leyland has urged the government to offer stronger scrappage incentives to accelerate fleet replacement, even as it plans to set up new scrappage centres and revives legacy truck brands

Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland is batting for more government incentives to boost fleet replacement in the country. According to a top executive, the firm will soon set up half a dozen scrappage centres spread across cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, and others.

 

"We thought the current scrapping policy would be enough, but apparently it is not. I can’t quantify how much incentive is needed, but it has to be quite substantial,” said Shenu Agarwal, managing director and chief executive officer, Ashok Leyland.

 

Last week, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group reintroduced two of its most legendary trucks — Taurus and Hippo.

 

Revived for the modern era, Taurus represents the high-horsepower tipper range, while Hippo anchors the tractor portfolio. The launch marks the return of names long synonymous with ruggedness and reliability, now re-engineered with next-generation technology to meet the evolving needs of India’s economy.

 

Built on Ashok Leyland’s advanced AVTR modular truck platform, the new range offers enhanced flexibility through multiple configurations and feature options. “Taurus and Hippo are purpose-built for the heavy-duty requirements of mining, infrastructure, and construction applications. The new truck range is powered by Ashok Leyland’s A-Series 6-cylinder engines, now with industry-leading peak torque and power, delivering unmatched durability and reliability, higher productivity, and faster turnaround times," he added.

 

He said that the demand cycle in the commercial vehicle market will continue for some time. "Till October, the demand was flat. We had always been saying that we are sitting on a fleet that is more than 11 years old. Historically, it was 7–8 years. GST 2.0 was one such trigger that helped the whole industry. The consumption economy is moving up, which is creating a lot of demand. It is a fundamental change in the industry, so it will continue for some time," he said.