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.