Force Motors invests ₹1,000 crore on 11-18 seater platform
Force Motors, however, plans to continue production and sales of its Traveller range, which retails in the price range of ₹13 – 30 lakhThe company, a leading van manufacturer, plans to commence production of T1N models at its Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) facility by December 2020
MUMBAI : Pune-based Force Motors Ltd on Wednesday unveiled an all-new light commercial vehicle (LCV) platform that can spawn several models with 11-18 seating capacity. Developed ground-up over the past four years with an investment of over ₹1,000 crore, the new LCV platform is also touted as the successor to Force Motors’ popular Traveller range of LCVs.
Speaking to Mint, Prasan Firodia, managing director, Force Motors said, “The all-new LCV platform is modular and hence can have powertrain options including diesel, CNG and electric. The 11-18 seater platform will be more premium than the existing Traveller range and can cater to the shared mobility requirements in urban spaces which can include tour applications, corporate fleet, school buses, ambulance and others."
The company, a leading van manufacturer, plans to commence production of T1N models at its Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) facility by December 2020 starting with diesel powered vehicles. The electric variant, Firodia said, is scheduled for production next year.
“The vehicles are undergoing testing and homologation currently. Almost 95% of validation exercises are done," said Firodia adding that the company is yet to finalise if T1N vehicles would be branded under the Traveller umbrella or under an all-new product vertical.
He said that the T1N is the first vehicle in its category to offer crash and rollover compliance along with safety features including airbags, antilock braking systems (ABS), among others even as the current regulations do not mandate the same for 11-18 seater LCVs.
The senior official estimates that the current market size of 13-26 seater commercial vehicle category, where Traveller models are positioned, could be about 25,000 units per annum. “The different categories that T1N can cater to could offer a 10 times bigger opportunity size that that including potential export volumes," Firodia told this publication.
Besides the domestic market, the company plans to export T1N vehicles to about 14 markets including Middle East, Africa, ASEAN South America and others under phase one.
Force Motors, however, plans to continue production and sales of its Traveller range, which retails in the price range of ₹13 – 30 lakh.
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