Eicher Trucks and Buses continues to grow stronger in Uttar Pradesh. It sold close to 2,300 vehicles in 2011 and has consolidated its position in the UP market with a 40 per cent market share of the light and medium duty segment and also made significant growth in heavy duty trucks and in buses. Uttar Pradesh is one of the key markets for Eicher, wherein it has made consistent and impressive gains in volume as well as market share.
The company has transformed itself into a complete CV manufacturer with a wide product range from 5t to 40t GVW trucks and 15 to 65-seater buses. The first Eicher branded truck rolled out of its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in 1986, and over the past 26 years the products have got endorsement from happy customers of over three lakh vehicles.
In the truck segment, the company has gained market share with its “VE” series of fuel-efficient heavy duty trucks and trucks in the 5 to 14 T segment. All Eicher trucks in the heavy duty VE Series carry the inherent advantages accrued from the dual- parentage of Volvo and Eicher. 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 validation, it is ensured that all products of the VE Series are engineered for superior performance, reliability and uncompromising durability.
Eicher also pioneered the 12-tyre segment in heavy duty trucks in India, and its VE 35.31 trucks with 12 tyres are doing extremely well in Uttar Pradesh. Eicher has been launching new products for the UP market, the most recent one being the “first-ever 14-ton truck” in India – the Eicher 11.14. This truck is a game changer in the industry and provides tremendous value and benefits to the transport operator. Eicher 11.14 continues to garner market share in UP.
Eicher has started gaining good customer acceptance in the heavy and medium duty bus segment. Last year it improved its bus market share in the country from seven to 10 per cent. Eicher also gained significant entry into the STU segment during the year. It received an order of 600 buses from the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, which was successfully executed.
Successful execution of orders have also taken place with the Rajasthan State Transport Corporation, GSRTC and UKSRTC, reflecting the growing confidence of STUs in the Eicher brand.
An investment of Rs. 125 crores has also been earmarked for setting up an Eicher bus manufacturing plant which will take the brand to the next level of growth trajectory. The plant will have a capacity to produce 10,000 buses when fully operational.
Eicher has a wide service network across UP with service centres at all key locations. Currently it has 12 touch points in the State. As part of its commitment towards after-sales service, the Eicher Promise initiative too has been launched to ensure enhanced service coverage for its VE Series of heavy duty trucks and heavy duty buses which help in maximizing uptime and thereby better the operating economics for the operator.
Besides Promise, the other initiatives by Eicher to help increase the vehicle utilization leading to higher profitability include Eicher freedom, mobile service camps, Eicher onroad service, cashless insurance in association with insurance companies and driving training programmes.
As a testimony to the strong alignment between Volvo and Eicher, VE Powertrain facility is also being set up. This will be a global hub for the medium duty automotive engine requirements of Volvo globally for five- and eight-litre engines. The plant will go on stream in July 2013 and will have the capacity to manufacture one lakh units per annum.
The Euro 6-compliant diesel engines to Volvo Europe will be adapted to Euro 3 and 4 engine technologies for VECV requirements. This is possibly the largest such project in India and certainly the most technologically advanced, which will catapult VECV into one of the largest commercial vehicle engine manufacturers in India. It will give VECV capability well beyond any of its competitors.