The Volvo Group and Eicher Motors came together in July 2008 and set up VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a 50-50 joint venture with the idea of driving modernisation in commercial transportation in India and the developing world. After 18 months of intense collaboration and knowledge sharing, VECV has launched its all-new range of Eicher heavy duty trucks – the VE Series – thereby gearing up to achieve its targeted a 15 per cent share in the Indian heavy duty truck market by 2015.The VE Series of Eicher heavy duty trucks includes the entire range of 16T - 40T GVW products, including 4x2, 6x2, 8x2 rigid haulage trucks, a 4x2 tractor-trailers and 4x2 and 6x4 tippers. The products are ideally suited for usage segments such as long haul, chemical and petroleum transport, bulk cargo transport, construction, mineral ore transportation, port-load handling, and municipal and airport applications.
Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, explains the significance of the VE series in the larger game-plan, saying: “All Eicher trucks in the VE Series carry the inherent advantages accrued from the dual-parentage of VECV. Volvo’s technology prowess, quality systems and advanced production processes are intrinsic to the design and manufacturing of these products, and so is the fuel-efficiency edge that Eicher continues to champion. Moreover, with access to global expertise in testing and validating these products, we’ve ensured that all products of the VE Series are engineered for superior performance, reliability and uncompromising durability. Going forward, these strengths will become the key differentiators of the Eicher heavy-duty truck range enabling better productivity and profitability for our customers.”
Besides these hard-core product attributes, the VE Series also offers the benefits of soft-services which would maximize uptime on the road and thereby better the operating economics. And, it is to deliver on this value proposition that service and sales reach have been improved. All key transport routes in the country have been mapped and identified to create a dense service network. There are over 200 authorized service centres and over 10000 private mechanics trained by Eicher, ensuring that the vehicles are maintained as per recommended service protocols. In addition, each of the 205 dealerships is equipped with mobile service vans and 24x7 helpline numbers to ensure quick response and speedy service.
“The VE Series will enable ‘Eicher Trucks and Buses’ to consolidate its position as a full-range premium mass market player wresting 15 per cent share of the heavy-duty truck market in India by 2015. In the coming days, the newer products from the Eicher range will revolutionize the Indian and emerging markets,” he added.
In a nutshell, the key differentiating features of the VE Series are superior fuel efficiency, higher reliability, superior performance level and best-in-class after-market support.
According to Mr. Siddhartha, besides the new introduction from the VE series-the Terra 25, a 6x4 rigid tipper which was on display at Auto Expo, the company also showcased a 650 mm floor height, 12-metre rear-engine city bus from Eicher. More commonly known as the rear engine semi low floor (RESLF), this bus is equipped with a single step at the front, automatic integrated door locking, touch sensors and wire-multiplexing, coupled with a self-diagnostic system making it a really modern, safe, passenger and driver-friendly bus.
Besides the inherent Eicher advantage of fuel-efficiency, it has all the contemporary features of a low floor city-bus and comes at a competitive price point. This initiative characterises the company commitment towards modernising commercial transportation in India and the developing world. The RESLF will be offered in different variants, e.g., Diesel, CNG, BSIII, air-conditioned, etc. A market share of 20 per cent in the city bus segment by 2015 is targeted.
Mr. Bertil Thoren, President, Volvo Group Alliance Office, AB Volvo, and Director on the Board of VECV, commented: “India is a very important market for the Volvo Group and our partnership with Eicher Motors in the form of VECV has as its purpose the introduction of the Eicher range of heavy duty products, best suited for the country’s infrastructural and logistics needs. This partnership has inked the intention of the Volvo Group to be a part of the ‘driving modernization in commercial transportation in India’ efforts by achieving a formidable position in heavy-duties and thereby increasing our footprint in the mass market-segments. Our commitment to this cause is unfailing, and we will provide all possible support to establish Eicher as the premium brand in the mass market segment and a customer’s preferred choice, not only in India but also in other emerging markets.”
