Ashok Leyland forays into used truck mkt

Commercial vehicles major Ashok Leyland Limited, the flagship company of the Hinduja Group, has announced its foray into the used vehicles market.

Stating that Ashok Leyland would be the first commercial vehicle manufacturer in the country to enter the used vehicles market, the company said in a press release that used Ashok Leyland vehicles, under its new venture called Altrux, would be purchased from the market and re-conditioned by the company using a 140-point check to ensure trouble-free operation. All Altrux vehicles will come with a six-month warranty.

The refurbishment of the truck-cab, body and chassis, will be carried out by qualified personnel that will ensure optimum performance and enable the buyer to operate the vehicle right from the delivery point.

All re-conditioned vehicles will carry approved documents that will certify their authenticity and facilitate easy financing.

As price is a key determinant in the purchase decision, buyers expect assured quality backed by equally good service, which the existing channels are not adequately equipped to provide. This is where Altrux will have the edge.

Altrux will provide a stamp of authenticity that assures the buyer of a vehicle's quality, performance and countrywide service back-up, the statement added.

Ashok Leyland is targeting a market share of about 15 per cent over the next three years in the used vehicles business. The market for used trucks is estimated at 77,000 units a year.

Ashok Leyland posted sales of 83,094 vehicles during 2006-07, as against 61,655 vehicles in 2005-06, registering a growth of 35 per cent.

Ashok Leyland to roll out Luxura

Ashok Leyland will roll out its fully-built luxury bus "� Luxura "� by July-August this year. The bus will conform to the globally acclaimed luxury and safety standards and will be a 36 -45 seater.

According to a top official, the company has not yet fixed the price of the vehicle, but would definitely be cheaper than the luxury buses offered by manufacturers like Volvo. "The company will also launch a 49-tonne capacity multi-axle vehicle in 2-3 months, the official told Business Standard.