Force Motor has already revealed its intentions about launching of a MPV based on the Mercedes-Benz Viano. The vehicle will be manufactured in partnership with the German auto giant Daimler AG in accordance with a Rs.1000 Crore investment plan. Force Motors is already in the tie up with the Merc for providing engines for its products.
Naresh Kumar Rattan (Chief operating officer, tractor division and President of Corporate sales and marketing) said that the company is also planning to establish new assembly line for engineering vehicles at its own facility at Pithampura, MP.
Commenting on the plan, he added that the company wants to have a high-end MPV which is now under development. Company has also established an assembly line at the Pithmpura plant that will be taking the existing plant capacity to a new level. He declined to reveal further information but said that the new vehicle will be high-end MPV. Negotiations with Daimler are over and company will be buying technologies from them.
He also stated that the company’s main focus will be on the new high-end MPV and the Force one SUV. The company is also considering on revealing 2-3 version of its SUV, Force One. He said that it may be 4×4 wheel drive and ABS variant.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of 26-seater mini bus, Traveller 26, he said that the Traveller is one area that they are building upon and by bringing the new MPV they will be strengthening their business.
The company is hoping to sale about 4,500 units of Traveller, which will be starting to produce in 2013. He said that they have started with the school bus. The model displayed at the launch was just a prototype and the full production is ought to begin in January. The company is also aiming to sale about 14,000 light commercial vehicles in 2012-13. The company is also planning to take Traveller 26 to the African market where it is already selling Trax and Traveller.
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