Volvo Buses India is planning to become a $1-billion company by 2015. Having a market share of about 80% in the inter-city luxury AC coaches market with city buses, Volvo Buses is widening its product portfolio, and in the process, it is expanding its R&D capabilities in India to bring in more of localisation to its entire range of buses sold in the country.
Currently, the localisation during manufacturing is about 50% and aims the company wants it to touch 70% to 80% over a period of time. Akash Passey, Managing Director of Volvo Buses India said, “Even as we have changed the bus industry over the past 10 years, the next five years will see Volvo Buses in India moving manifold faster than it has ever did before. This growth will be marked by our investments into expanding our industrial base, much higher export levels, new customer experiences across India.”
TATA MOTORS TO LAUNCH DIVO LUXURY COACH
Courtesy Busworld.org
Tata Motors , the country's largest automotive maker in terms of sales will be launching its Divo, a luxury AC coach meant for intercity long-distance operations in the first quarter of the next fiscal, a top official said today. Ashish Tandon, head marketing buses of Tata Motors, said the variant will compete with Volvo and Mercedes.
"As of now, five Divos are under trial on the Indian roads. With Divo, we will directly compete with Volvo and Mercedes on the basis of an international product at an Indian price. So, you can make out that we will be 10 per cent less expensive than our competitors," he said.
The Divo has been styled by the company's fully owned subsidiary Hispano Carrocera, a Spanish bodybuilding company, and is BS-III compliant powered with a 285-horse power Cummins engine, Tandon said on the sidelines of the Bus and Special Vehicles Expo (BSVE)-2011, a four-day event organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Confederation of India Industry (CII).
Tandon said Divo is positioned in a niche segment and the company is expecting to sell 300 units per year, from a total market size of 500 units. Tata says it is currently holding a 50 per cent share of the 70,000-unit per year Indian bus market and expected to increase the share with the new launches.
Mercedes-Benz launched 3-Axle Luxury Coach
Mercedes-Benz India has launched a another model of its Luxury Coach in the form of the new internationally acclaimed 3-Axle Luxury Coach for the first time in India at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.The coach comes with an O 500 RSD 2436 chassis from Mercedes-Benz, while the body is assembled by the Indian partner company Sutlej Motors Ltd.The existing 2-axle coach has already received good response from customers in India. The coach is powered by a powerful Euro III compliant engine while ABS comes standard.The coach also features two LCD screens to offer better viewing for the passengers.With the launch of the multi-axle coach, the Volvo B9R Luxury Coach will now finally get some competition.
Here is the official press release:
"Mercedes-Benz India takes luxury travel to the next level with launch of Multi Axle Coach
·Mercedes-Benz India launched the internationally acclaimed 3-Axle Luxury Coach for the first time in India
·The luxury intercity coach chassis will be offered by Mercedes-Benz while Sutlej Motors will create the coach body guided by specifications and standards from Mercedes-Benz.
·The outstanding safety and comfort of the all new 3–axle coach is matched by its environmental compatibility and economy
New Delhi–Mercedes-Benz today announced the launch of its much awaited 3-axle Intercity Luxury Coach for the first time in India. The coach comes with an O 500 RSD 2436 chassis from Mercedes-Benz, while the body is assembled by the Indian partner company Sutlej Motors Ltd.
“The Mercedes-Benz coach incorporates hallmarks of the Mercedes brand:highest standards of safety, comfort and technology. Also adding to its advantages like optimized cost of ownership and robust build quality. I am confident our customers in India will appreciate this new offering.” commented Mr. Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses.
Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India indicated the positioning of the multi-axle buses: “With rapid infrastructure improvement in India, there is a need mass transit long-distance mobility solutions with adequate comfort and safety for occupants. The Mercedes-Benz coach being introduced will cater to this specific demand for the Indian market. Our 2-axle coach has already received enthusiastic response; the new Multi-axle coaches will take it to the next
level for our Indian customers.”
The Mercedes-Benz 3-Axle Coaches embody the brand's global aspirations, displaying a blend of premium quality, outstanding cost-effectiveness and the very highest safety standards coupled with a strong service network. In other words, this Star performer defines 'success' for the coach operators.”
The face of the coach, with its bold and inviting windscreen and a beautifully sculpted front face, is visually impressive and distinct. The windscreen design with its integration to the body design provides a panoramic view of the road. These features compliment the Mercedes star proudly placed on the sculpted plinth.
Powered by the Euro III engine, the Mercedes-Benz 3-axle coaches are capable of delivering high performance, powerful torque output and a good fuel economy. The rear engine with 6 vertical cylinders, turbo charged and intercooled engine delivers 1200 Nm torque at a low rpm of 1400-1600. The smart suspension system is equipped a lifting mechanism that allows the chauffer to lift the height of the coach when the road conditions are bad.
The Mercedes-Benz coach is designed for the highest levels of safety and stability at even high speeds. The coach comes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) that accentuates safety of the vehicle as a whole. The ABS impedes the locking of all the wheels when braking the vehicle and it is independent of road conditions. Also all the materials used for the coach body are certified as fire retardant.
With typical Mercedes attention to detail, the coach’s designers have also given great attention to the interior of the debutante, ensuring that every feature appeals in both emotional and functional terms with its form, colour or material. The result is a harmonious whole - an atmosphere in which the bus’ occupants immediately feel safe and protected, and long journeys can be taken without any feeling of effort or stress. Passenger seats are mounted on a higher level from the aisle and are equipped with a mechanical reclining mechanism. Also, the coach maintains a perfect temperature with a well developed roof mounted AC.
Other features of the coach include two LCD screens provided to make viewing more comfortable for the passengers. The coach also boasts a sufficiently large luggage compartment between the front and rear axels.
Technology, design & styling, consumption, comfort, service, maintenance and
ease of repair – the Mercedes-Benz Coach delivers no less than the best in
all disciplines."
Ashok Leyland is working on a new bus platform
Ashok Leyland is working on a new bus platform, which “will offer a higher level of comfort and safety in public transportation”, says R Seshasayee, managing director. Its portfolio includes high-floor buses comprising the Viking and Cheetah series, vestibule and double-decker buses, semi-low-floor buses, and airport transfer air-conditioned coaches. Seshasayee was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the company’s U-Truck series.
On the company’s foray into light commercial vehicles (LCVs) through a joint venture with Nissan, Seshasayee says the LCVs will be rolled out both from Leyland’s plant at Hosur and from Nissan Renault’s upcoming plant on the outskirts of Chennai, which constitute the first phase. “In the second phase, we would roll out LCVs from the JV’s new plant, which is also located close to Chennai.” It is a 51:49 JV, named Ashok Leyland and Nissan Vehicles Pvt Ltd. These vehicles might be a basis for a next generation of light buses and coaches.
On the company’s foray into light commercial vehicles (LCVs) through a joint venture with Nissan, Seshasayee says the LCVs will be rolled out both from Leyland’s plant at Hosur and from Nissan Renault’s upcoming plant on the outskirts of Chennai, which constitute the first phase. “In the second phase, we would roll out LCVs from the JV’s new plant, which is also located close to Chennai.” It is a 51:49 JV, named Ashok Leyland and Nissan Vehicles Pvt Ltd. These vehicles might be a basis for a next generation of light buses and coaches.
New MTC buses to have GPS and digital signboards
Posted in
MTC
As many as 1,000 Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses equipped with digital signboards and Global Positioning System will hit the city's roads in the next few months. While the MTC has already issued orders for the procurement of 1,000 new buses, they would be delivered in a phased manner in three to four months, officials in the transport corporation said. All the new vehicles will have digital signboards in the front, rear and the side and also GPS.
It, however, would take few more months to make the GPS in new buses operational as it will need an increase in the capacity of the existing server and installation of adequate digital display boards in bus-stops concerned. The GPS would enable passengers to know through the display board the exact arrival time of buses at the stop. At presently, GPS is operational in about 30 MTC routes and digital signboards are available on 30 airconditioned buses.
"A decision on which routes the new GPS-equipped buses would run will be taken once they are delivered,'' sources in MTC told The Times of India. On the need for having digital signboards, an official said: "Digital signboards will?be attractive visible even from a long distance, particularly during late evening and night hours. Also, we will not have to replace the signboard in case we run the bus on a different route."
At present, the MTC has a fleet of 3,350 buses. Except the airconditioned buses, the remaining 3,320 buses have wooden signboards. In some of the buses, the route numbers are painted on their bodies.
While the first batch of new buses is scheduled to be delivered this month, it is still not clear how the MTC would utilise them -- whether use them as a replacement for aged bus or as an addition to the existing fleet. The normal lifespan of a bus is eight years or a running distance of 8 lakh km, whichever is earlier. But the MTC has about 1,000 buses which are over eight year olds.
It, however, would take few more months to make the GPS in new buses operational as it will need an increase in the capacity of the existing server and installation of adequate digital display boards in bus-stops concerned. The GPS would enable passengers to know through the display board the exact arrival time of buses at the stop. At presently, GPS is operational in about 30 MTC routes and digital signboards are available on 30 airconditioned buses.
"A decision on which routes the new GPS-equipped buses would run will be taken once they are delivered,'' sources in MTC told The Times of India. On the need for having digital signboards, an official said: "Digital signboards will?be attractive visible even from a long distance, particularly during late evening and night hours. Also, we will not have to replace the signboard in case we run the bus on a different route."
At present, the MTC has a fleet of 3,350 buses. Except the airconditioned buses, the remaining 3,320 buses have wooden signboards. In some of the buses, the route numbers are painted on their bodies.
While the first batch of new buses is scheduled to be delivered this month, it is still not clear how the MTC would utilise them -- whether use them as a replacement for aged bus or as an addition to the existing fleet. The normal lifespan of a bus is eight years or a running distance of 8 lakh km, whichever is earlier. But the MTC has about 1,000 buses which are over eight year olds.
Hi Bus Lovers,
DesiBus is just another blog for Bus Lovers mainly for Indian Readers. Early from the childhood I am really fond of buses, its design, speed, style, and more....and now a I am with a blog fully dedicated to Bus.
I planned to post articles about buses of the past, present and future.
I planned to post articles about buses of the past, present and future.
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