Ashok Leyland recently in Chennai launched DOST+, an upgraded version of its LCV DOST. Ashok Leyland entered the LCV space with the launch of its commercially successful ‘DOST’. With the launch of the ‘DOST+’, it has further strengthened the DOST brand.
The new product will address the needs of the upper end of small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment in the 2T to 3.5T GVW segment and has a payload capacity of 1.475T. It has an aggressive pricing, starting at Rs. 5.54 lakhs (prices are ex-showroom, Chennai).
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland Ltd., said: “With the latest addition of ‘DOST+’ in our product family, the LCV business is poised to be an important game changer for us. We have consistently delivered on our promise of ‘Aapki Jeet. Hamari Jeet’. The DOST brand is a perfect example of our promise and has already made a mark in its segment with its growing market share.”
Mr. Nitin Seth, President, Light Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, in his address, said: “With more than 1.7 lakh DOSTs already serving in the markets today, this brand is already a runaway success for Ashok Leyland. With ‘DOST+’ joining the family, we are extending the trust and reliability of this brand to the upper segment of LCVs. The ‘DOST+’ with its superior mileage, excellent pickup, 18% higher payload, 7% more loading space and bigger, 15 inch tyres add more value to every trip made, ensuring higher earnings. With the launch of ‘DOST+’, we have stayed true to our LCV mission, to deliver to the Indian customer, contemporary products that deliver best-in-class user experience, coupled with exceptional fuel efficiency. Moreover, we have doubled the warranty on the ‘DOST+’, a reflection of our confidence in this product. With all this and more we are confident that we will delight our customers and continue the successful, winning streak with ‘DOST+’, like that of the DOST. I am promising you that from now on every six months you will see a new product from Ashok Leyland till 2020.”
The DOST+ and DOST would co-exist, helping Ashok Leyland address a bigger pie in the LCV segment, which is poised to grow with the economy booming, focus on the hub & spoke transportation model, GST implementation and growth in organised retail, ecommerce and related industries.
“A driver, on an average, spends 12-14 hours on the road, in his truck. He is looking at very high operational efficiency so that he can make a lot of money. He also expects to be treated well. Any new vehicle launched should be driver centric. DOST was one of the first vehicles that brought in power steering. We were the first to bring an AC cabin. Today we are here for another game changing offering from AL, the DOST+”, added Mr. Seth.
The vehicle comes with the promise of friendship and earnings. The customer can experience the brand in 375+ outlets across the country. The OEM has a robust backup infrastructure, regional call centres were customers can directly communicate with the service team. “In case of any difficulty, we send service vans to his work site, so that he doesn’t miss on his work and can still get his vehicle repaired. This is one of our business strengths were we do 10% more service at the door step of the customer. In Tamil Nadu we have 43 touchpoints. We are practically there at every 100kms in rural areas and every 20 km in urban”, he explained.
Lots of pluses
Designed and engineered to win the hearts of demanding customers, the DOST+ is true to the lineage of Ashok Leyland LCVs, offering more earnings per kilometre. It is powered by the advanced 1.5 TDCR engine, which delivers a power of 60 HP and 170 Nm torque ensuring good pickup and better turnaround time. It offers best in class mileage along with superior load carrying capacity.
The DOST+ will help address various applications and would appeal to both the urban market customers who have to navigate city streets regularly and the semi-urban and rural customers who need to navigate through rough and hard terrains. It helps its customers to run their operations in a cost-effective manner, thereby adding more value to every trip made with the DOST+. Moreover, it is from the same, already proven DOST platform, and comes with additional warranty of 2 years, 1 lakh km, ensuring complete peace of mind for its owners.
The vehicle would be available in three versions with the top-end version featuring air-conditioning, power steering, dual-colour beige-gray trim and ergonomic seats. The customer will have a palette of three colours to choose from, White, Irish Cream and Grey-Beige. Further helping deliver superior driver comfort is its cable-operated gear shifter.
Growing exports
Sharing details about the company’s LCV export plans, he shared: “Today our exports contribute to only 10% of our sale. We want 25% of our market to be exports. We hope to have our first left hand drive LCV in January which will be exported to the Gulf countries where the temperature is so hot, crossing 55 degrees. We are also working with Euro V for Russia which has a temperature as low as -40 degrees. We had some restrictions due to our joint venture previously. We were not allowed to export LCVs beyond SAARC countries. With the buy-out, restriction has been removed and can sell anywhere in the globe. Our overall LCV sale for the current year is predicted to touch 40,000 units, 20% more than FY16, of which our LCV export is almost 3,000 units.”