Tata Motors Offers World Standard Truck Range For Indian Auto Industry

May 28, 2009 -- Tata Motors today unveiled its new range of world standard trucks. In their power, speed, carrying capacity, operating economy and trims, they will introduce new benchmarks in India and match the best in the world in performance at a lower life cycle cost.

The range comprises multi-axle trucks, tractor-trailers, tippers, mixers, and special application vehicles. Besides India, they will also gradually be introduced in South Korea, South Africa, the SAARC countries and the Middle East.

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Ratan N Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, said, “The developing infrastructure in India makes it possible for transporters to reap the benefit of trucks with higher power, speed and carrying capacity. The new range from Tata Motors will meet those needs. It will also help us penetrate international markets more effectively and competitively.”

The managing director of Tata Motors, Ravi Kant, said, “The range is an output of collaboration across the Tata Motors family, supplemented by inputs from partners across the world. This approach has enabled us to harness appropriate expertise and develop relevant products faster than ever before.“

The product has been jointly developed by Tata Motors and its two subsidiaries, Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company in South Korea and the Tata Motors European Technical Centre in the UK. The company has harnessed the best of inputs and technologies — in styling, engines, transmission, suspension, chassis frames, fabrication and dies — from partners based in countries like Italy, Germany, Sweden, the US, Japan and South Korea.

Variants and specifications

The range offers a higher power-to-weight ratio translating into faster turnaround time, better reliability and durability, and resulting in higher revenue generation for the transporter than is the norm now. The versatility of the range meets several needs:

* Tractor-trailers and multi-axle trucks for long distance transportation
* Rigid trucks for short distance distribution
* Tippers, mixers, cranes for construction and mining
* Special applications like reefers, bulkers, and tip-trailers

Capacity: The capacity of the trucks can be from 10 tonne to 75 tonne gross combination weight (GCW), to meet a wide mix of usages.

Power trains: The power train option stretches from 150ps to 560ps, with suitable engines, transmissions and axles of different makes. Additional features on offer include automated transmissions and air suspension.

Vehicle tracking: Every truck will have global positioning system for effective vehicle tracking as standard fitment.

Comfortable cabin options: The spacious air-conditioned cabs come in three different lengths (day, rest and sleeper), three different heights (flat, low-dome and high-dome roof) and in two different widths. While there are two trim levels, features include reclining seats, adjustable steering wheel, seat belts and arm rests (for both the driver and co-driver) for driver comfort and safety. These features are designed to induce longer and more trips and safer driving.

Safety and emissions

The range is designed to meet stringent safety norms of the markets that it will be sold in. In terms of emissions, the range is Euro-III and Euro-IV complaint, while being Euro-V ready.

Source: Tata Motors