Ashok Leyland, which launched its multi-purpose vehicle ‘Stile’ here today, said it initially aims to sell approximately 1,000 units a month.
“The total number of utility vehicles sold in this country is around 43,000 vehicles a month of various kinds of price points. We will be happy if we can sell approximately 1,000 vehicles a month to start with,” Ashok Leyland Executive Director (LCV & Defence) Nitin Seth told reporters on the sales target for Stile.
With prices starting from Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore), the 7-8 seater Stile — which was launched here today — will follow the highly successful ‘Dost’ as the second product offering from Ashok Leyland’s fast growing light vehicle business, company officials said.
“Stile is developed by the Ashok Leyland-Nissan Motor Company joint venture and the product will roll out from Nissan’s manufacturing plat at Oragadam, near Chennai.”
“I think we need to sell something in India, get 100 per cent confidence then you start exporting; ....So we will be looking at export market also,” Seth said.
Seth said: “JV between Ashok Leyland, Nissan Motor is working on three platforms, one is Dost platform — it is already on roads and will have variants as well; the second is NV200 platform which we call as van platform and third is Partner platform that has LCV truck that is to be launched in January.”
“First platform Dost has been launched, second platform is what we are launching now and third platform will be launched in January — it is trucks and buses, light commercial vehicle of bigger tonnage.”
Approximately Rs 1,200 crore so far has already been invested in to the JV.” We have total layout of around Rs 2,500 crore; .... More investments will come in the years to come.
Clarifying that Rs 2,500 crore total outlay for the JV includes investment into a new plant, he said: “We have taken possession of land near Chennai — where we are going to make a new Greenfield plant.”
“Currently, Dost and Partner will be produced at Ashok Leyland plant in Hosur, Stile will be produced at Nissan’s manufacturing plat at Oragadam, near Chennai. When we will have our green field plant ready all the three products will move to the Greenfield plat,” Seth added.
Seth also made it clear that Ashok Leyland will not be venturing into car business. “We are not into that at all.”