Force Motors Ltd has sewn up plans to launch a clutch of models during the Delhi Auto show covering its recently launched sports utility vehicle Force One and vehicles in other categories.

“The company has plans to invest about Rs 750 crore in new product development and capacity augmentation. For the launch of Force One, we invested Rs 250 crore of the Rs 1,000 crore planned outlay. We are working on two small commercial vehicles and a nine-seater van in technical collaboration with Mercedes-Benz,” Mr Prasan Firodia, Managing Director of Force Motors Ltd, said.

Addressing a press conference here after launching its SUV in Andhra Pradesh, Mr Firodia said the company is readying itself to launch two more variants of its SUV at the auto show and follow this up with other models. “We have moved on from a passenger mover vehicle maker through commercial vehicles to a personal commute vehicle provider with the SUV and expect to consolidate this with new models,” he said.

“The 1,000-strong member R&D team is gearing up to provide support for launch of other products from the company stable. It is possible to develop a totally new platform within 24 months,” he said.

“We are in the process of carving out a separate new dealership and services centres to address the passenger vehicle business. The new models we are planning would be sold through these outlets. Currently, we have 20 such dealerships operational across the country,” he said.

Mr Firodia refrained to comment about MAN Truck buying out its stake from Force Motors Ltd, for about Rs 950 crore, by stating that this has been mutually agreed upon.

He said the Rs 4,500-crore Group has in October stared supplying engines for Mercedes Benz S-Class range, which complements other engine supplies.

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