Ural India is entering booming bus business in India. It has signed a technical collaboration agreement with FAW of China for manufacturing low, semi floor and inter-city buses in India. Ural India is presently manufacturing trucks, dumpers and special anti-mine vehicles for army and police. With the new arrangement they will now be able to cater to the needs of general markets also. Besides they will also offer bus chassis to customers for building their own bodies.FAW Group is a leading global manufacturer of trucks, buses and passenger cars in China. According to Mr. Anirudh Kanoi, Director, Ural India Ltd., these buses are built at their Haldia factory in West Bengal and production has already started. Currently, the buses are imported as CKDs from FAW and assembled at their Indian plant. They have achieved indigenisation to the extent of 25 per cent and Mr. J.K. Saraf, Chairman of Ural India expects that in the next couple of years this will go upto 50 per cent. These buses are estimated to cost between Rs. 30 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs.
The new city buses will be rear engine type, fitted with 150 hp conforming to Euro III standards and will have a seating capacity of 40 with both AC and non-AC options. These will be marketed with Ural and FAW badging.
